For the Strange and Surprising: Where the Mongrels Are
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My thoughts:
For the Strange and Surprising is one of those books where you get swept away and transported in a new, fascinating orld right from the word Go. I loved the riches and colour scheme of the cover book and couldn't wait to delve in into this story which proved out both imaginative and totally original. Twenty two year old Ada is still grieving the death of her father and is on a fishing trip when she gets into a terrible storm. Ada has to swim for her life to escape a watersprout and sharks and I was absolutely mesmerised by how the author engaged all my senses in these opening scenes. The book got better and better with every page and kept me up until small hours. In the aftermath of the strorm Ada ends up on a mysterious island which is not on Earth where she has to navigate a new world full of unexpected dangers. I really liked the protagonist Ada- she's complex and flawed and the author does a wonderful job revealing the hidden depths of this strong and open-minded character as the book progresses. There are also four male protagonists, Ecaeris, Tallodus, Imryll and Connac,each of which is bringing out a different angle, a different side of Ada's personality. The banter is delicious and the tension is palpable. I'm not ususally a big fan of multiple POVs, but here it works surprisingly well. A very entertaining start to a new series with fantastic world-building, intriguing characters, adventure and humour- can't wait to read the second book! Thank you to Giselle from XBT, the publisher and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. The North Wind
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My thoughts:
My first time reading Alexandria Warwick and I'm really glad to have discovered this talented author! The North Wind is an original new adult fantasy inspired by Beauty and the Beast as well as the Hades and Persephone myth. Well, Wren, the protagonist of the North Windis much more strong-willed, outspoken, and feisty than the traditionally meek Persephone, and this is exactly what I loved about this charcter. Twenty three year old Wren and her twin sister Elora lost their parents to starvation in their tiny village of Edgewood. Wren was forced to learn to hunt and steal to make sure she and her much softer sister survive the crual and harsh world they live in. Once in a few decades King Boreas, the North Wind, leaves his citadel in the deadlands and crosses the Shade boundary that separates the world of dead and living and comes to Edgewood to pick his human bride. Wren would do anything to save her sister and that includes deceiving the North Wind and taking Elora's place. Wren finds out that the Shade and the protection it offers is weakening and the bestway to assuage it is to feed it human blood, made stronger by the wedding vows given by an immortal. Boreas may be reserved and broody, and sorely lacking conversation skills, but he is hardly the monster Wren imagined him to be, despite his power to judge and punish human souls for their violent actions in life. This is the third re-telling of the Hades and Persephone myth I've read in a couple months (the other two were Neon Gods and Light Destroyer) and I must say I liked this Hades most of all. Bit by bit we get to know our characters, their history and their disposition, and the romantic tension grows in a suspenseful slow-slow burn. If you love the hate-to-love trope, you will appreciate the development of Boreas and Wren's relationship. The book is a bit on a lengthy side, so if you can't wait to get to the spicy scenes, you'll have to be patient. Don't worry, they'll be worth your wait. Overall, I liked the dark and atmospheric world- building and the flawed nature of the protagonists (Wren is battling her alcoholism in quite a realistic way). The book was also engaging and original. I would recommend it to anyone who loves Beauty and the Beast retellings intertwined with some elements of Greek mythology, new adult fantasy and the enemies-to-lovers trope. Thank you to Giselle fro XBT, the publisher and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. Lightning Crashes
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Google Play -- EXCERPT: Rachel lifted the quilt covering Nicolas and slipped beneath it. He made as much room for her as he could, but his legs were already hanging over the far arm, his back pressed against the cushions. Rachel didn’t need much room as she snuggled into his side, tucking the quilt back around them. “It’s freezing in here,” she said, her voice husky and low, her breath feathering against his neck. “You need to check your insulation,” he said. “And probably get new windows.” “I’ll get right on that,” she said in a voice that implied the opposite. She shivered, and Nicolas allowed himself the indulgence of pulling her closer against him. In the name of keeping her warm. “What are you doing up?” Rachel’s hand found his waist under the blanket, her fingers icy against his bare skin, but he didn’t dare flinch, lest he scared her off. “I wanted to see if you showed up. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” “It’s good you got some rest.” “More like I sobbed myself to sleep in Naomi’s bed, but yeah, sleep was good. How are you?” He sighed, at a loss for words to describe how he was feeling. His face ached, his body felt drawn, like he’d worked out too hard without enough food afterward. Nicolas couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten. He wasn’t even sure he had a digestive tract anymore. Who had room for food when they were filled with heartbreak and betrayal? Was it possible to be yawning open with emptiness and full of dread and darkness all at the same time? It felt like the same thing, and yet entirely different. Rachel’s hand was playing over his torso in a way that she probably didn’t even realize she was doing, but in a way that was distracting, allowing temptation to edge in on the periphery.
GIVEAWAY! #Book Blitz #Midlife Shifter Unexpected by Melle Amade (Cougar Creek Coven, #2) @Xpresso Book Tours18/1/2022
Midlife Shifter Unexpected
GIVEAWAY! Sweet Mercy
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GIVEAWAY! Snow and Red
-- EXCERPT: Red whirled to help Snow, fire racing through her veins. A guy yanked her leather backpack—hard. He lunged toward her. Red-hot anger flashed through her. She flung a hand up to defend herself. Flames sprang from her fingertips and shot out. Fire licked along the thug’s sleeve. He screamed, dropping her arm, and backed off, batting at his jacket. The stench of burning fabric jammed up Red’s nose. Snow wasn’t doing much better. Her clothes were glittering with ice as she dodged and kicked at a guy slashing at her with a wicked curved blade. “Red!” A tall guy grabbed Red by the shoulders and slammed her against a building. Her head whacked the bricks. Sharp pain lanced through her skull. She struck out with her foot and kicked him in the shin. He swore. A knife flashed, angling toward her neck. She ducked, heart racing. Gods, were she and Snow going to die tonight in a stinking alley? She’d felt so alive, with fire running through her veins. And they’d just found that photo of Dad. They were onto something, she was sure. “Give me your purse, lady.” The man’s leering eyes and stinking attitude made Red want to burn his face off. Red’s legs trembled. Her feet were shaking. No, the ground itself was shaking. Wow, that was some weird anxiety reaction. Or maybe someone had spiked her juice while she’d been dancing. Surely not. They’d been with Snow’s cute I.T. guy and friends from school. “So, think you can play with fire?” the tall man sneered, his blade at her throat. He had the cutest baby blues. And a face that could belong to an angel. Not much good when a guy was holding you at knife point. Red gulped. A rumble filled the air and two large dark figures in leather hoodies dashed down the alley. Another tremor ran through the ground. An earthquake at a time like this—whaddaya know, hyper crazy. What else could go wrong tonight? One of the dark figures ran at them and swung a punch at the man holding the knife. The puncher’s fist, covered with gold tattoos, flashed past Red and connected with Angelface’s nose. There was a crunch. Angelface crumpled to his knees. His knife skittered across the asphalt and clanked against a trash can. The dude in a leather hoodie towered over Angelface, his face deep in the folds of his hood. Had the earth moved for him, too? A freak gust of wind blasted the alley. The other hooded stranger tackled the thug harassing Snow. The thug hit the ground, then rolled away and scrambled to his feet. “It’s the Draki twins. Let’s get out of here.” He raced off, two more of his gang following him. The man who’d thrown the punch dragged Angelface up by the scruff of his neck and held him against the wall. “What did you want with these girls?” he growled. Dark hair peeked from the edge of his hood. The other guy in the leather hoodie, a blond, crowded in, cracking his knuckles. “Uh, n-nothing. Mr. Sparkles sent us.” Snow dashed over to Red, clutching her flimsy purse against her body. Ice rimmed the hem of her sequined tank. She was shaking, lips white with rage. The hoods were too busy questioning Angelface to notice. Red grabbed Snow’s hand. “Come on. Let’s get outta here,” she hissed. Snow blinked. “Who are they?” she asked. “The guys in the hoods? And that pretty gang? I mean, all those boys were so good looking it was crazy.” So, she’d noticed their looks too. “Whoever they are, they’re dangerous as hell.” Red pulled Snow’s arm. “Let’s get to the car.” Together, they raced along the dingy alley past trash cans and dumpsters. “Hey!” Boots pounded behind them. The two hoodies were on their heels.
GIVEAWAY! My Forever
-- EXCERPT: It suddenly felt as if the entire room stopped to turn and look in my direction. Slowly, I let my gaze travel over the rest of the room. That was when I realized this wasn’t any ordinary night out at the bar. The streamers and signs congratulating Lena Clarkson on her album’s success hung in the distance. I blinked, and Lena Clarkson herself stood before me. I knew her music well and was a big fan. Under any ordinary circumstance, I would’ve been elated to meet her. This wasn’t an ordinary situation. I could feel Gabriel’s eyes on me, but even his glare wasn’t what had my heart pounding and my blood pressure rising. I could feel his brother nearby. Ace was somewhere in the room. The way the hairs on my arms and neck stood up and the zap of electricity in my stomach were my indications. It astounded me that, even after all of these years, I could still feel him whenever we were in the same room. I wouldn’t allow myself to look around to search for him. No matter how much I wanted to see his face. I kept my gaze on Lena. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize this was a party.” I paused, forcing myself to remember why I was standing there in the first place. Aiden. My subconscious whispered to me, reminding me. I blinked. “I-I just need some help.” I didn’t know why I phrased it that way. I meant to ask for a phone. But before I could correct myself, Lena moved closer, her face taking on a concerned expression. “Hi, it’s not a problem. Are you from around here?” she asked. “What’s your name?” I opened my mouth to answer but got interrupted. “Savannah.” Ace’s voice pierced through the crowd and music. He pushed past his younger brother and Lena, barreling down on me. “She’s my wife.” My breathing halted altogether. The edge in his tone was so cold it could’ve iced over a Texas summer.
GIVEAWAY! Silent Depths
BOOK TRAILER: -- EXCERPT: A primal scream not heard since watching a teammate die at the hands of his enemy energized steps muffled by carpeted stairs. Heavy scraping across the floor followed cessation of music from the clock radio. Glass shattered with something heavy thudding against the bedroom wall. Nate wasn’t sure what to expect upon entering the space but didn’t anticipate seeing his king-size bed shoved into the wall. Enough power such that the headboard post went through the wallboard. A ceramic lamp lay shattered, its pieces strewn in linear fashion parallel to the baseboard. Bedding draped in tangles over the dresser, whose contents also lay scattered around the floor. Knowing Callie had surpassed her breaking point didn’t explain how a slip of a woman could ram the heavy frame with such force. “Feeling better?” With hands fisted at her side and crimson spreading across her face, she closed her eyes and hung her head. “Sorry. I’ll find a way to pay for the damage.” “Nonsense. A little mud, a piece of wallboard, and a few minutes time, it’ll be good as new. Can’t say it’s the first time there’s been a meltdown in this house. I’m sure it won’t be the last either.” Nate shrugged as if it were a common occurrence. There was nothing common about the strength and time needed to demolish the room. Her position relative to the damage done didn’t add up any more than the timing to accomplish so much carnage. It was a mystery for another time. “I didn’t peg you for a fan of western swing music.” The corners of his mouth tipped up. “I can quote any number of studies showing the health benefits of music, from decreasing perceived pain, stress, and anxiety, to improved cognitive performance, decreasing insomnia…” “Maybe we should leave it on?”
GIVEAWAY! Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for No Ex Before Marriage by one of my favourite authors Portia Macintosh. No Ex Before Marriage It's not over until someone says 'I do'... While her friends join the "Wife Club" one by one, Poppy feels like that part of her life is done and dusted. Already married and divorced she's not desperate to go through all that again. But what if her divorce never actually went through...? After a shock revelation Poppy not only discovers she is still married, but that Zac is about to have his second wedding! Coming face to face with her (almost) ex-husband after six years apart is never going to be easy. And when Zac panics and tells his new wife-to-be that Poppy is family, things can't get much worse as she is welcomed with open arms as part of the wedding party! As the memories flood back, can Poppy really leave the past where it is? And can she watch the first love of her life walk down the aisle to say 'I do' once again? Purchase Link My thoughts: Portia MacIntosh is one of my favourite authors as my local bookshop and my library card can attest. Her books are such a treat-lighthearted but with some serious issues explored on the way, with sweet and loyal protagonists, and incredibly entertaining plotlines. No Ex Before Marriage was no exception- once again five stars, Portia does it again! The book opens with a wedding scene. The last of Poppy Walker's childhood friends Rachael has joined the Wives' Club. She might have gone a bit over top with relegating Poppy to a sad singles' table, but Poppy is a good sport, she won't spoil her friend's wedding by complaining. Well, Poppy does have some things to be unhappy about. Her best friends have been excluding her from their social life. While Poppy was the first to get married, at the tender age of twenty four, she was also the first one to get divorced. Add her mum dying in a freaky car accident and her dad barely coping with his grief...What Poppy needs is love and support of her friends, but all she is getting is judgy comments. The single table would be an utter disaster, were it not for Kat, a fun-loving fellow pariah who reminds her to take every opportunity to live her life and have a good time. Then out of blue, Poppy's Dad informs her that her divorce was never finalised and she has very little time to correct the situation before her ex gets married in a private ceremony in a remote part of Scottish Highlands and Poppy doesn't think twice- she needs to save Zac, 'the nerdy love of her life', from becoming a bigamist. The pace was great. Portia hits the ground running with the opening scenes and the road trip and then lets us absorb what actually happened to Poppy and Zac's relationship through a series of flashbacks entertwined with the scenes at the Scottish castle where Zac and his influencer/ daughter of a movies star fiancee are getting ready for their wedding. It isn't difficult to guess what caused Zac and Poppy's breakup and when we finally got to discussing this heavy topic, I was very happy to see it was dealt with in an extremely sensitive way. It did add a touch of real life sadness to this very well-balanced book. Poppy is a very likeable protagonist, although, unlike Portia's other protagonists, she does come across as a bit weak- defeated by life? in need of a good hug and a fun night out with her friends? She's serious and honest, and takes responsibility for her own actions. She doesn't give up on her friendships, because sometimes life happens and you can drift apart, the important thing is to talk and make time for your lifelong friends. You're probably going to hate Poppy's friends at the beginning of the book and might not find it easy to forgive, but I bet it will make even more appreciative of Kat. Well, the more, the merrier, and there's place in life for all kinds of friend, old and new. I often see books described as heartwarming and uplifting and I don't always agree with the blurb, but that's exactly how this one felt. The message is great: live your life and do things, even though it might mean you making mistakes, because no one is perfect, live your life so that you don't have regrets later, have fun and take care of your loved ones. Highly recommended to anyone who appeciates a good British romcom. Thank you to Rachel, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. Author Bio –
Portia MacIntosh is a bestselling romantic comedy author of over 15 novels, including Stuck On You and The Plus One Pact. Previously a music journalist, Portia writes hilarious stories, drawing on her real life experiences. Social Media Links Facebook https://www.facebook.com/macintoshportia/ Twitter https://twitter.com/PortiaMacIntosh Instagram https://www.instagram.com/portiamacintoshauthor/ Newsletter Sign Up Link http://bit.ly/PortiaMacIntoshNewsletter Bookbub profile https://www.bookbub.com/authors/portia-macintosh Fate Hollow Academy: Term 1
-- EXCERPT: “What did you do?” My voice came out as a whisper. “I feed off your pain.” His gaze darted to my lips and back. “Just like what I was doing as you slept.” “Like healing?” He snorted a laugh, his shoulders pulling up as his body shook. “Fuck no. I’m not a healer. I cause pain.” “And yet you took mine away?” I tilted my head, my hair sliding across my shoulder as it shifted sides. His hand moved from the top of my head to the back, and he pulled me closer until his nose brushed against mine. He sucked in a sharp breath as if he surprised himself. “What’re you doing to me, little bird?” Sparks of excitement shot off through my body, crackling down my nerve endings. His breath fanned over my lips, and a new kind of hunger clawed its way to the front of my mind. My mind was buzzing with so many desires, and I firmly clamped my hands on my thighs so I wouldn’t reach out and touch him. I wasn’t used to socializing, but something told me what I wanted to do to him wasn’t normal. “Why do I feel like this?” he asked, moving his hand from the back of my head to grip my chin between his index finger and thumb. “I…” “You what?” He turned my head to the side before leaning in and letting his lips glide against my cheek and down my jaw. “What do you feel when I touch you?” “Overwhelmed.” My throat tightened. “Not the emotion I would’ve guessed.” He pulled back, letting his hand drop to his lap. Confusion lines settled on his face as he studied mine. “Tell me what makes you overwhelmed.”
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