Release Day Celebration and Giveaway: Choatic War by Lia Davis

Calling all fans of dragons AND Greek Gods. You do NOT want to miss CHAOTIC WAR, Sons of War book 3, by Lia Davis.  Lia gives you sexy dragons and Greek Gods in a sexy and thrilling story that you simply must read.

Synopsis:

While Zavier Sullivan may be the calm, reserved brother, his dragon is not. Especially since the beautiful, unorganized demi-goddess, Danielle Roberts—a.k.a Elle—moved into the mansion and into his life. She disturbs his OCD and makes him yearn for things he shouldn’t, but he can’t stay away from her. Nor can he deny her anything. Including his blood. 

Ever since arriving at the home of the Sons of War, Elle has been plagued with dreams of the past and future. The visions are taking a toll, causing her debilitating headaches and ruining her sleep, but she doesn’t know what it all means. Her mother, Nyx, the Goddess of Night, has never bothered to show up and explain things to her. Until she arrives and unlocks Elle's powers, promptly transforming her into a half-daimon, half-goddess. Now, Zavier may be her only hope of holding onto her humanity, but can she bond with him after everything she’s seen? Especially in the midst of everything the Sons and their mates are going through.

Available at:  Amazon | iBooks | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | ARe | Goodreads

Excerpt:

You’re fucking weak.

Elle painted while her mind reeled with thoughts of Zavier holding her as she slept. Usually, his touch muted the invasion of the visions, but not this time. Images that she didn’t recognize, which had grown more and more fuzzy the longer she was awake, had disturbed what would’ve been a peaceful sleep.

She shouldn’t be surprised, though. The dreams had been getting worse. And so was the increase of power running through her veins. It was as if something inside her was waking up. What, she didn’t know. She sensed something dark, which pushed her to do more research on Nyx, her mother and the goddess of night.

Nyx had mothered a number of gods and daimons, including the two spirits of death; the keres were female daimons of cruel death, and Thanatos was the god of non-violent death. Although some scriptures considered Thanatos a daimon. But it was the blood-hungry keres Elle fixed on. The she-daimons were vicious and violent.

Elle’s blood ran cold with fear. What if she turned into a creature like her sisters?

Then there was the threat on Zavier’s life. She gripped the brush tighter. Garrick would die before she let him harm anyone she cared about, including her dragon. Although she wasn’t sure she wanted to mate him just yet, she knew it would come to that one day.

“You should get more sleep.”

Elle shook her head at Gwen’s soft command. “I can’t.”

“Did your nap help?”

Casting her friend a narrow-eyed glare over her shoulder, Elle pursed her lips. After a moment, she relaxed and set her brush and palette on the worktable then sat on the leather loveseat in her half of the room. “It’s been too long since I’ve had a peaceful sleep. I’m not sure I’ll ever have one. Zavier stirs up too much emotion.”

The dragon frustrated her, turned her on, and made her want things that were impossible—like a normal, vision-free life.

Gwen sat beside her and took her hands. “You let fear drive you. I can feel it surrounding you. Fear fuels the darkness. You must learn to use it in a positive way.”

“Easy for you to say. You’re not half daimon.”

“True, but not all daimons are bad. Sure, because they’re Nyx’s children, they’re more powerful than daemons and many have god-like strengths, but...” Gwen hugged her and leaned her head against Elle’s. “Search inside yourself. Find your light and let it shine.”

Elle let a soft chuckle escape. There was a time when Gwen would have boldly spoken her mind. However, since her powers had been unlocked, she’d had to learn to be less bold and more vague. She was, after all, a goddess of fate, so her words could alter one’s future if she weren’t careful. Sometimes things slipped out and Aphrodite had to come in to do damage control.

“It’s hard when my dreams are filled with so much death and gloom.” Elle pulled out of Gwen’s embrace, stood, and then paced the floor. “Part of me wants to open the floodgates and unlock my powers. I mean, I can feel them getting stronger, but the headaches are worse. What if unlocking them makes me insane or kills me?”

Gwen jumped to her feet and gripped Elle’s shoulders. Elle stared into her eyes, shocked at the speed her friend had moved. Power whirled around the room a moment before Gwen spoke. “You will not die.”

Silence filled the air for several long moments. Then Gwen frowned and released her. When she stepped away, Elle reached for her, but Gwen held up a hand.

Crap. Gwen had used her powers to… to what? Make Elle immortal? When Elle opened her mouth to ask what it all meant, a zing of power drifted into the room, changing the pressure of the air slightly. Turning around, Elle expected Aphrodite, but the goddess who materialized wasn’t her.

Black mist shifted into a tall, beautiful goddess with hair the color of night and eyes that mirrored Elle’s. Nyx wore a long, black gown that covered her feet and spilled out onto the floor. Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders and hung down to her hips.

Elle stood, staring at her mother. She had called to the goddess so many times in the last few months. And Nyx picked this moment to show. Elle didn’t know whether to be mad or happy to see her. There were so many lies and unanswered questions.

About Lia Davis

:

In 2008, Lia Davis ventured into the world of writing and publishing and never looked back. She has published more than twenty books, including the bestselling A Tiger’s Claim, book one in her fan favorite Ashwood Falls series. Her novels feature compassionate yet strong alpha heroes who know how to please their women and her leading ladies are each strong in their own way. No matter what obstacle she throws at them, they come out better in the end.

While writing was initially a way escape from real world drama, Lia now makes her living creating worlds filled with magic, mystery, romance, and adventure so that others can leave real life behind for a few hours at a time.
Lia’s favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, reading, writing, chocolate, coffee, nature and hanging out with her kitties. . She and her family live in Northeast Florida battling hurricanes and very humid summers, but it’s her home and she loves it! Sign up for her newsletter, become a member of her fan club, and follow her on Twitter  @NovelsByLia.

Connect with Lia:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Authorgraph  | Amazon Author Page

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Review: Bitter Bite by Jennifer Estep

Which is stronger: blood ties or a battle-tested friendship? That’s the question Gin Blanco asks when a friend’s long-lost relative strolls into town. The suspicious reunion is a surprise for everyone—and a big problem for Gin. Book fourteen in the New York Times bestselling urban fantasy series RT Book Reviews calls “unbeatable entertainment!”

It’s not easy being queen bee of an underworld abuzz with crooks and killers. Wielding my potent Ice and Stone elemental magic will only get me so far—my real secret is my tight-knit makeshift family, a motley crew of cops and criminals, dwarves and playboys. My foster brother Finnegan Lane is my right-hand man, but when his suddenly not-dead relative comes back into the picture, I’m the one on the outside looking in.

It’s funny how life works: one minute your best friend is rock-steady, and the next he’s doe-eyed and buying into this whole loving-relative routine to the point of ignoring you. I’d like to be happy for Finn, I really would. But all of my instincts are telling me that beneath the syrupy sweet demeanor and old-fashioned charm, this sudden interloper is planning something. The whole shtick leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. This person might have avoided the grave once, but I’ll put anyone who hurts Finn in the ground—for good.

Just when I think that this series can't get any better Ms. Estep takes us in a whole new direction. This is one of my favorite series because it has it all action, great characters and family. Maybe not the traditional one but family none the less.  Sometimes the family you make is better than than the family the good lord gave you. And in this case it most certainly was. My only issue was what Finn's long lost relatives motive was. I couldn't believe that Gin and the rest of the gang couldn't figure it out.  Said relative kept saying how predictable Gin was since Fletcher had trained her. But dayumn their end game was crystal clear to me. No one in Gin's family not getting that was a bit of a disappointment to me but I can overlook it because sometimes when you are two close to the issue you can't see the forest for the trees. But that being said it did detract from the story for me and is why I didn't give this book a higher rating.
This story took a turn that I was not expecting and set the stage for more books I hope. At least it left me wanting more. And another thing this book did was gave us more back story for Gin which I love.
I was given this book by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review and I give it a 4 star rating.

Cover reveal and Giveaway: Caught Bread Handed by Ellie Alexander.

Welcome to the cover reveal of Caught Bread Handed by Ellie Alexander! This is the fourth book in the Bakeshop Mystery series and releases June 28 by St. Martin's Press. 

About the Book:

Welcome to Torte—a friendly, small-town family bakeshop where the oven is heating up as high as the body count…

Jules Capshaw is still chewing over her husband Carlos’s return to Ashland, Oregon. Could there be too many cooks in the kitchen? Whatever is stirring between those two will have to wait. Despite the Oregon Shakespeare Festival being dark for the winter, the bakeshop is bustling, the dough is rolling, and there’s no rest for the weary… especially when murder is thrown into the mix.

When Mindy Nolan, the owner of a new restaurant in town, turns up dead, the batter at hand thickens. Jules knows that there was bad blood between Mindy and others in town, and tracking the killer could prove to be an unwelcome treat. And to top it all off, there’s Carlos, who is pleading—with those delicious dark eyes and sexy Spanish accent—for Jules to take him back. Is home where the heart is or will she make a fresh start… and risk getting burned?

Goodreads | Amazon | Vintage Books 

***

About the Author:

Ellie Alexander is a Pacific Northwest native who spends ample time testing pastry recipes in her home kitchen or at one of the many famed coffeehouses nearby. When she’s not coated in flour, you’ll find her outside exploring hiking trails and trying to burn off calories consumed in the name of research. Follow her on Facebook or Twitter to learn more.

Twitter | Facebook 

***

GIVEAWAY:

Signed copies of the first 3 books in the series plus a signed cover flat of CAUGHT BREAD HANDED

Triple chocolate chip cookie mix

Oregon Chai

Dagoba (Ashland) chocolate chai

Dagoba chocolates

Spiced apple cider

Open to US addresses only

Ends March 23, 2016

Prizing is provided by the author, hosts are not responsible. Must be 13 or older to enter and have parental permission if under 17. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

“Dark Alpha's Embrace” by Donna Grant Release Day Blitz

Dark Alpha's Embrace 

(Reaper Series, #2)

by Donna Grant

Blurb: 

An exclusive new series from New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant!

There's no escaping a Reaper. I'm an elite assassin, part of a brotherhood that only answers to Death. And when Death says your time is up, I'm coming for you...

I'm a warrior. My unbreakable determination, my backbone of steel define me. As a Reaper who does Death's bidding, weakness is a word I don't understand. Until a stunning librarian stirs emotions deep within me I've never felt before. Her soft curves blunt the sharp edges of my soul, crushing my defenses - yet make me stronger. But underneath those wide eyes and fierce femininity, she has a weapon, one she won't hesitate to use. And when the Dark begin their deadly descent, we'll need each other's love and protection...or risk fracturing apart.

Available for purchase at 

            

 Excerpt

   

River’s gaze was locked with Kyran. She’d seen many Fae over the years, but there was something fascinating and absorbing about this Dark that made her heart race – from something other than fear. If only she could lay her finger on what it was.

She knew what the Dark Fae did to humans, how they had sex with them, giving the humans ultimate pleasure. And all the while the Dark drained them of their souls. It was a horrendous way to die.

But Kyran seemed different. She didn’t get a vibe of evil from him despite his hair and eyes. All Dark had red eyes and silver in their black hair. Despite what he was, she couldn’t deny his attraction. Perhaps it was the way he held her gaze, looking at her as if he couldn’t get enough.

Her stomach quivered, and she moved a half step closer, even as her mind warned her to keep her distance. But she couldn’t. She had to get nearer.

He didn’t look away. With a simple look, he invited her to get closer. It was a temptation she wasn’t sure she could refuse.

The Reapers Series

Reaper #1

Available for purchase at 

          

About the Author

Donna Grant is the New York Timesand USA Today bestselling author of the sizzling Dark King series featuring dragons, immortal Highlanders, and the Fae.

She was born and raised in Texas but loves to travel. Her adventures have taken her throughout the United States as well as to Jamaica, Mexico, and Scotland. Growing up on the Texas/Louisiana border, Donna’s Cajun side of the family taught her the “spicy” side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin’ and bareback riding.

Despite deadlines and voracious reading, Donna still manages to keep up with her two children, four cats, and one long haired Chihuahua.

You can find Donna at 

               

   

Presented By

Book Promo and Excerpt: Boston's Quest by Shanae Branham

Clean YA Suspense/ Fantasy

Date Published: 7/10/2015

The external drive containing the information for building a hologram machine is stolen and sold on the black market. Now someone has connected a new hologram machine to the Internet, forcing people to fight for their lives in an online fantasy game. Trapped inside this deadly scenario, seventeen-year-old Boston Manning learns that her weakness for tolerating abuse is stopping her from unlocking her elven powers. Can she overcome her character flaw or will she die trying?

In book 2 of the Holoquest Fantasy Series, Boston and Jason return with another action-packed, romantic adventure. Boston’s Questwill electrify your imagination as you experience elves, dwarfs, trolls, priests, vampires, and demons as you’ve never experienced them before.

YouTube Video

https://youtu.be/cIAa43ZPqfg

I am a professional writer with a bachelor's degree in creative writing and a minor in grammar. I have also attended several years of classes and workshops in screenplay writing at the Los Angeles Screenplay writer's Expo.

I love suspenseful, action-adventures and clean, young adult, romance stories. I was born and raised in a small town in Idaho. I am the second out of six children. When I was in my early 20's my mother was killed by a drunk driver. This one incident drastically changed my life. I have always had a passion for reading and writing fiction. Owing to a life long struggle with Dyslexia, early teachers discouraged me from pursuing a career in writing.

As I have spent over twenty-five years transforming my language disabilities into professional writing skills, God has honed my insatiable passion into an incredible vision.

Contact Links

Website:  http://shanaebranham.com/books/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shanae-Branham-193847093968586/timeline/

Purchase Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Bostons-Quest-Holoquest-Fantasy-Book-ebook/dp/B011DWRZ8I/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1444094301&sr=1-1&keywords=Boston%27s+Quest

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bostons-quest-shanae-branham/1122175970?ean=9781511964081

This excerpt is from the middle of Boston’s Quest and comes from the first time she is forced inside the hologram machine. It’s from Boston’s point of view.

For a long time I’m hooked up to an IV in the hospital room, pondering my situation. My captors have thought of everything. Not only am I handcuffed, with an armed guard, but someone is constantly monitoring me. With this type of extreme security, how will I ever escape? I tremble. There’s nothing I can do but play along with this malicious experiment.

Finally I’m well enough for the nurse to release me from the IV and my guard escorts me back to the unusual room where Isaac found me. Once there, I see a different officer sitting behind the desk in front of the strange metal hatch. The officer hands my guard a pink harness that looks similar to a lifejacket. It’s made of strips of metallic fabric with three large buckles that fasten in front.

“Put it on,” my guard says in an authoritative tone as he uncuffs me.

Reaching my hands through the armholes, I slip the bodice around my ribs and fasten the clasps across my chest. The guard checks to see that the buckles are secure and I whisper, “You don’t have to do this.”

He averts his gaze, saying, “Next,” and the officer hands him a large syringe.

“No drugs!” I slap the syringe out of his hand.

He shakes his hand, cursing, as the instrument hits the ground and rolls. “These aren’t drugs!” His arm trembles as he struggles to keep from hitting me. Then he growls something obscene as he picks the syringe up and dusts it off.

“Then what is it?”

“Special nutrients to keep you alive.” He grabs my arm and roughly squeezes it while he injects me. “You’ll need a shot every four hours until your body acclimates to the atmosphere inside the machine.”

I hate how he’s overpowered me, but I hold still, allowing the green liquid to enter my body. At first, the prick of the needle stings, but the pain soon dissipates, leaving my skin electrified. My senses become heightened. I feel the tickle of the soft fabric of the harness against my bare back and the cool touch of the dust particles in the air. An exhilarating charge runs through my nervous system from my heart to my outer extremities, leaving a strange tingling.

Suddenly a wave of nausea strikes. I grab the garbage can and hurl.

The officer smiles. “She’s ready.”

“Wait.” I wipe my mouth off with the back of my hand. “Please, tell me something more about where I’m headed.”

The officer relaxes back in his seat. “No need. The program chooses someone you trust from your memory to guide you. Now go!”

A whoosh of air hits us as the guard opens the hatch. I jump back, but the man has anticipated my resistance. Catching my arm, he picks me up and throws me across the threshold. I fly into the machine, limbs flailing, grasping at empty space.

I’m freefalling.

A surge of energy heightens my senses. The nausea subsides. Frantically, I search for the door out, but flashing multicolored lights blind me from seeing more than a foot in front of me. I’m sliding down the side of a rainbow. Shades of bright color wash over and around me as my body transforms into something new.

First, the color of my skin darkens into a rich, glistening brown. Second, the rubber bands holding my braids rupture. My hair comes alive. Shifting and twisting, the long strands undo themselves into a curly mass as their blond color turns into a swirled mixture of various tones of pink. Third, my extremities lengthen. My fingers become long and thin. Next, my ears tickle. I put my hands over them, and am amazed as their circular shape changes into points beneath my touch.

I’m an elf.

My mind accepts this fact, expanding with new ideas and concepts. I understand the anatomy of molecules, cells, plants, and animals and wonder if this is normal for elves. I contemplate how tentative the life force pulsating through every living being is and am filled with reverence and awe for Mother Nature and her intricate workings.

These thoughts race through my mind like cars speeding along a freeway. Then everything stops. I look around, feeling like I’m having an out-of-body experience. I’m seated cross-legged, alone, in the middle of what looks like the indoor horse arena at Dwight’s Dude Ranch. I realize that I’m linked with the powerful life source that runs through every living thing. The soil is ready to respond to the desire of my heart. At the same time, I experience the purr of satisfaction from the wood in the building’s dome-like structure. It’s happy to have a purpose. Being connected with the objects around me is wonderful, and comforting.

My senses are changing. My hearing and sight have been linked in such a way that when I hear a sound a great distance away, my sight becomes binocular-like and zeros in on the object without prior thought on my part.

I hear a slight squeak behind me and turn my head. My eyes immediately focus on a point over fifty yards across the arena. The vivid details of a small, furry nose become clear. It’s sticking out of a tiny hole in the earth.

A mouse.

Defining the object refocuses my vision and the mouse disappears as I see the side of the stable with its wooden planked wall. My sense of touch is also different. I hold my hands palm down several inches above the earth and the dirt below my fingertips pulsates. I realize I don’t have to have physical contact with an object to experience its substance. Instantly, I feel the energy of the object as if I’m linked with it. The object is waiting for me to command it.

Incredible.

“I’m Pete. I’ll be your transformation guide.”

I turn my head to see my shooting instructor standing by my side. “How did you get here? I didn’t hear you come.”

“I’m a projection from your memory.” He kneels down beside me. Sticking his hand out to stroke my hair, his fingers disappear instead of touching the long pink strands. “I’m not really here.”

He stands, taking off his black cowboy hat. His brown hair is scrunched with sweat. I smile with the delight of familiar companionship. He’s just the way I remember him—short, stocky, and muscular.

He smiles back at me, raising both sides of his thick mustache. “Watch this.” He throws the hat. It disappears as it hits the dirt and a bow-and-arrow set appears on the ground in its place. “Let’s get started. You don’t have much time.”

Review: Better off Undead by Cynthia Eden

Detective Jane Hart is just getting used to paranormal life in New Orleans. Monsters are real, and she’s the lucky cop who has to deal with them on a daily basis. Werewolves, vampires, witches, and demons—she has to face them all and keep their paranormal madness in check. 

When a killer targets human men—and leaves their bodies scattered in local cemeteries--Jane suspects she may be looking at the crimes of a werewolf gone rogue. In order to hunt down the beast, Jane once again teams up with her werewolf lover, alpha Aidan Locke. But Aidan has been keeping secrets from Jane, dark secrets that will destroy her world. 

Because Jane isn’t the hunter on her latest investigation. She’s the prey. And when a vampire attack leaves her helpless, the woman that Jane was before will vanish. She’ll become the one thing she fears most and Aidan… 

Her fierce lover may have to become her executioner. 

This is the second book in this series and IMO Cynthia was blessed by the cover gods in this series. Very bold and eye catching but not as good as the first books cover. In this book we learn more and more about both Jane and Aiden's pasts and these two grow closer and closer. What with Jane slowly settling into her new job as the police person in charge of all paranormal cases and another killer showing up but this time its not a vamp it's one of Aiden's kind. and if that isn't bad enough there is another vamp in town and he wants to hook up with Jane. Unfortunately for him she's is already with Aiden. When a close encounter with the killer Were leaves Jane almost dead. Aiden does everything in his power to keep her alive and well and does. But this leaves Jane with certain changes that no one knows how long she'll be that way or if they'll disappear with time. They finally stop the killer but a mistake made by Aiden leaves both him and Jane at the mercy of the vamp and he takes his chance and changes Jane into something neither Aiden nor Jane wants her to be.

But this turns out to be not as bad as they expect because she is able to control the blood lust. This story ends with a happy for now but I so need the third and final book in this series and I cannot wait to read it. I give this one 4 1/2 stars and I was given this by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. If you like this type of story go forth and buy these. The links are below.

Review: Bite the Dust by Cynthia Eden

Vampires. Werewolves. Beasts that hunt in the night...When New Orleans Detective Jane Hart investigates her first official homicide case, she never expects to have her world ripped apart. But the murder she’s investigating is part of a deadly war between vampires and werewolves…and now Jane is caught in that eternal battle. A battle that can’t end well. 

Werewolf Aidan Locke has been running New Orleans for years. It’s his job to keep the vamps out of the city. But when a Master Vampire comes to town, determined to unleash hell, Aidan knows it’s time to fight with all the fury of his pack. Beast versus vamp, until the last breath. Then he meets Jane… 

One look, one taste, and Aidan knows that Jane is far more than she seems. Far more than she even knows herself to be. She’s important in the paranormal war, not a pawn to be used, but a queen to be won. And if he can’t keep her at his side, if he can’t stop the darkness from descending on the town…then Jane Hart will become not just a fierce cop, not some guardian, but something deadlier. Darker. Aidan will fight heaven and hell to change her fate. To change their fate because he is more than just a predator. 

And Jane is more than prey. Far more. 

The world is changing—for the humans and the monsters. Hot, sexy, and intense, BITE THE DUST is the first novel in New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Cynthia Eden’s dark new “Blood and Moonlight” series. 

Oh man i love this cover. It is very eye catching and colorful. I would have picked this book up and checked it out even it hadn't been by one of my favorite authors. And the story inside didn't disappoint. Jane has got to be one of my favorite heroines of all time. You start out thinking that she is a human cop but unfortunately for Jane she is more much more. And she is swiftly pulled into a world that she has known existed since she was a child and monsters killed her parents. She just didn't know what all was out there. And though Aiden is a werewolf these are your not your typical weres for one thing only alphas can shift. And in this world weres and vamps are enemies. And you slowly learn that Jane is a vamp in waiting which is a person that will change into a vamp if they are killed in a violent way. 

This book is action filled all the way through.. There are vamps, weres, witches, a serial killer, and a psycho who was a real surprise that I am not going to let out of the bag. I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. I was oh so glad I had the next book in this series on hand to read and I immediately started it. This series is a going to be a trilogy for now even though I hope that she continues with this world because I really liked it.I give this book 4 stars and was given it by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.