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Scotland, United Kingdom
Hi! My name is Kendall, I'm 29, a Media Graduate and I'm from Scotland. I'm a Reader, Reviewer, and Blogger.

Tuesday 31 December 2013

My Top 13 Books of 2013!

 
Hey guys! Here is a list of my top 13 books of 2013! This list is only some of my favourites as there are loads more which should be on this list, but I could only pick thirteen!
 
13. Faithless by Amanda Bennett!

Sometimes in the darkness, we find the light. At least the fortunate ones do. For those who don't want to find the light are sometimes forced into it. What do you do when a stranger in the darkness ends up being your savior?

Riley Turner never expected or wanted to see her twenty-first birthday, and she planned not to. Feeling lost and alone her entire life with no one to love or support her, there was never a reason to exist. That was until the stranger who saves her, becomes the one person to show her what life is really about. Riley finds her world being turned upside down and for the first time ever, finds herself wanting to live.
Everything happens for a reason, and sometimes that reason doesn't always make sense, especially when life hasn't always been so kind. Will Riley be able to overcome her fears and finally find a reason to live her life, or will she see just how cruel life really can be after believing and taking a chance?


12. Love, Lies, and Deception by L.P. Dover!


What do you do when the one person you thought you knew turns out to be the one you knew the least?

Twenty-three year old Marissa Chase, and soon to be college graduate, has everything going for her: wonderful friends, a lucrative degree, and a chance to explore the world. What made it even better – or so she thought – was when her path crossed with the alluring Alec Holden. Unable to stay away from him, Marissa experiences a love like no other, and falls into his world of passion and intrigue. However, things begin to shift when this path takes a deadly turn.

Her trust is put to the test when hidden dangers unfold before her, revealing secrets that have been buried for years. Secrets that were meant to stay hidden. Murder, lies, and betrayal … will Marissa figure it all out in time and escape with her life intact, or will she be too late and fall into the trap of deception?


11. Games of Fire by Airicka Phoenix!

Sophie has enough problems in her life without Spencer turning her blood to fire, without his eyes freezing and burning her, without his hatred of her. Since his migration into the house
next to hers, Sophia Valdez isn’t sure whether she wants to toss him under a bus or kiss that smirking mouth of his. But even as the temperature rises around them, leaping flames of passion, want and desire,everything either has ever known will be shattered by the lurking shadow hounding their every step, wanting revenge.

Spencer Rowth moves to the sleepy town of River Port with his mother and twelve year old sister, Suzy, to escape a deceitful father, an unfaithful girlfriend and a life crumbling much too fast for him to grapple onto only to be smacked upside the head by the last thing he wanted again. Sophie was everything he refused to want. Her temper, her wit, her laugh, her smile, the way her entire body goes up in flames under his hands are things he would rather slam a lid on and forget. Instead, he finds himself falling for the smart-mouth next door. But how long will he have before the evil chasing them catches up? How long before the very thing he never wanted becomes his only thread to sanity? And who is after them? What do they want and why do they want Spencer and Sophie dead?



10. Forgiving Lies [Forgiving Lies 01] by Molly McAdams!

A matter of secrets...
Undercover cop Logan "Kash" Ryan can't afford a distraction like his new neighbor Rachel Masters, even if she's the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. To catch a serial killer, he needs to stay focused, yet all he can think about is the feisty, long-legged coed whose guarded nature intrigues him

A matter of lies...
Deceived and hurt before, Rachel would rather be a single, crazy cat lady than trust another guy, especially a gorgeous, tattooed bad boy with a Harley, like Kash. But when his liquid-steel eyes meet hers, it takes all of Rachel's will-power to stop herself from exploring his hot body with her own.

A matter of love...As much as they try to keep it platonic, the friction between them sparks an irresistible heat that soon consumes them. Can Kash keep Rachel's heart and her life safe even as he risks his own? Will she be able to forgive his lies ... or will she run when she discovers the dangerous truth?



9. The Space Between The Book of Phoenix 01] by Kristie Cook!

When Life Falls to Pieces, Answers Lie in the Space Between

Leni Drago can't make a smart decision on her own, according to her mother anyway--the few times she's tried resulted in disaster. When her uncle sends her on a dance tour in Italy to find her real self, she returns to an empty home and any evidence of his existence wiped out. Then things get even stranger, like the mysterious appearances of Jeric Winters--inked, pierced and a hit-'em-and-quit-'em type. He's one decision that should be easy for Leni. Or is he?

Jeric doesn't do girlfriends. Unless they're someone else's. He left the fighting cage and modeling for a reason, and girls who want more than a night of fun are distractions he doesn't need. Especially when they come with as much baggage as Leni carries. But he can't shake the gut feeling that he needs to know her. All of her.

To discover the truth behind their connection and their ties to a journal from 1989, they must face painful secrets from their pasts. And they must do so quickly because their own existences are falling to pieces.

Two love stories, one mystery and a paranormal twist that readers call "mind blowing." This first part of The Book of Phoenix takes you on a heart-wrenching ride as you discover the answers that lie in The Space Between.


8. Branded [Sinners 01] by Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki!

Fifty years ago the Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society. He created the Hole where sinners are branded according to their sins and might survive a few years. At best.
Now LUST wraps around my neck like blue fingers strangling me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit and now the Hole is my new home.

Darkness. Death. Violence. Pain.

Now every day is a fight for survival. But I won’t die. I won’t let them win.

The Hole can’t keep me. The Hole can’t break me.
I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter.
My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.



7. The Spark series by Brooke Cumberland!

Spark [Spark 01]!

 When your past controls your future, how do you move forward?
Velaney Wills knows about that all too well.
Weak, powerless, and fearing the one person who has hurt her the most…can she overcome the barriers to move forward?
Being saved by a muscled Godsend was never on her agenda, but when firefighter, Eric Reilley comes into her life unexpectedly, everything changes.

Velaney has never felt loved or cared for, and her past prevents her from letting anyone in. Eric manages to break down her walls—despite the repercussions that come for them afterwards.

They have an undeniable spark—something she has never felt before, but will it be enough? Can love overcome all obstacles? Can they save each other to protect their love or will her past shatter everything she never knew she needed…?



Burn [Spark 02]!

Just when Velaney thinks she is safe again...her worst nightmare comes back to haunt her.

Eric is dealing with his own insecurities as he tries to accept Velaney's decision to help the enemy...can he get past it? Will they be there for each other in the end?

Eric struggles to step aside and trust Velaney...but will his past keep him from doing so? Can he let go in order to move forward?

Velaney and Eric had their fair share of ups and downs in SPARK...their love was undeniable and intense. Just when you think they could get their happily ever after...pasts collide and merge together...will they fight for what they want?

Or will their love crash and burn?


6. Text [Take It Off 04] by Cambria Hebert!

One text can change everything. 

Honor Calhoun never thought her life would ever be like the books she writes for a living. One morning while out for a run, she learns not all bad things are plots in novels. Some horrors can actually come true. She faces off with a persistent attacker, holds her own, but in the end is taken hostage and thrown into a hole. In the middle of the woods. But Honor didn't go down there alone. She took her kidnapper's phone with her. With a spotty signal and a dying battery, her hope is slim. 

Nathan Reed is an active duty Marine stationed at a small reserve base in Pennsylvania. All he wants is a calm and uneventful duty station where he can forget the memories of his time in a war-torn country. But a single text changes everything. Nathan becomes Honor's only hope for survival, and he has to go against the clock, push aside his past, and take on a mission for a girl he's never met.
 
Both of them want freedom... but they have to survive long enough to obtain it.


5. Fight or Flight series by Jamie Canosa!

Fight or Flight [Fight or Flight 01]!

Be smart.
Keep your head down.
And look out for number one.

These are the rules Jay has lived by for the past two years. The rules of surviving life on the streets. But when Em comes bursting into his life, in all of her disastrous glory, the rules go right out the window.
 
Survive.
Flee what’s been left behind.
And never look back.


Emerson’s plan was simple. Though, it was easier said than done. The city streets are dangerous and unforgiving to a new arrival. Especially, a seventeen-year-old girl who’s never known anything but life in the suburbs. Sometimes, however, what’s lurking behind those white picket fences can be more frightening than any dark alley.

Both of them made the same decision when life got overwhelming—to run from their demons. Brought together by fate or circumstance, Em and Jay find the kind of love neither of them ever expected. But, when those demons come back to haunt them and their love is on the line, which instincts will they choose to follow this time . . . Fight or Flight?



Sink or Swim [Fight or Flight 1.5]!

There are some things you just can't walk away from.

When sleeping in vacant warehouses and dark alleys becomes preferable to living at home, something is seriously wrong. But when word reaches Allie that her mother is facing a life threatening illness, she has no choice but to return to the place of nightmares. Leaving wasn't a choice, it was a necessity, and if returning hadn't been equally necessary, Allie never would have set foot back inside that hell-hole.

Dean is no stranger to hardship, but the day Allie walked out of his life, taking his heart right along with her, was hands-down the most frustrating. Six months later, she's back and Dean refuses to rest until he figures out exactly what the hell happened.

Now, Allie's drowning. Drowning in lies. Drowning in the truth. Drowning in pain, and anger, and fear. But there comes a time when every drowning person must decide whether they will . . . Sink or Swim?


Now or Never [Fight or Flight 02]!

To move on,
Leave the past behind,
And build a new life with Jay.


That’s all Em wanted. After everything they’d been through together, they were both overdue their ‘happily ever after’. Too bad the world doesn’t work that way. Memories last longer than dreams and Em’s fears continue to plague her both day and night, interfering with that new life she so desperately craves.

To start over,
Secure a future,
And give Em the life she deserves.


That was Jay’s plan, but the past isn’t done with them, yet. While Em still struggles to overcome the ghosts of her past, Jay is forced to come face to face with his. When the skeletons in his closet step back into the light, Jay must decide what he will do—and what he will sacrifice—to protect Em from them.

Against all odds, Em and Jay are on the verge of having everything they’ve ever wanted. They’ve fought for it before, but is their love strong enough to endure any more heartache? The time has come for each of them to choose for themselves whether or not they will allow the past to continue to corrupt their future. And, together, they must decide, will it be . . . NOW OR NEVER?



4. Altered [Altered 01] by Jennifer Rush!

They were made to forget. But they'll never forgive.

Everything about Anna's life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch, at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There's Nick, solemn and brooding; Cas, light-hearted and playful; Trev, smart and caring; and Sam . . . who's stolen Anna's heart.

When the Branch decides it's time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape. Anna's father pushes her to go with them, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs.

On the run, with her father's warning in her head, Anna begins to doubt everything she thought she knew about herself. She soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they're both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away.



3. The Redemption of Callie & Kayden [The Coincidence 02] by Jessica Sorensen!

The dark secret Kayden has kept hidden for years is out. Worse, he's facing charges for battery. The only way he stands a chance against the charges is if Callie speaks up, something he'll never ask her to do.

Callie knows Kayden is going back to his dark place and desperately wants to save him. But saving him means admitting her secrets aloud. Callie and Kayden are stronger than they think, especially when they're together. Together they move forward, face their demons, and finally start to heal from their traumatic pasts.


2. The Trace + Olivia series by Micalea Smeltzer!

Finding Olivia [Trace + Olivia 01]!

How far would you go to find yourself?

That’s the question that’s been haunting Olivia Owens for years.

All Olivia has ever wanted to do is live and make mistakes, but her preacher father has made that impossible. She believes that her years at college will be her ticket into the real world and her chance to be wild and spontaneous.

But she’s never been able to do it on her own.

At the start of her sophomore year, she only has four things crossed off her Live List, but that’s all about to change thanks to a chance encounter with Trace Wentworth. She’s about to learn that there’s more to this reformed bad boy than just his looks and panty dropping smile.

Trace can’t explain what it is that draws him to Olivia.

All he knows is that he wants to get to know the girl with the sad smile but sparkle in her eyes.

When she tells him about her list, he knows that this is his chance to get to know Olivia Owens. Trace is determined to show Olivia that she can do all the things she’s ever wanted to do. So, he begins to help her cross things off her list, even the more outlandish requests.

What happens along the way is more than what Olivia or Trace ever expected.

Love, laughs, and a list.

That’s the name of the game when you’re Finding Olivia.


Chasing Olivia [Trace + Olivia 02]!

How far would you go to reignite the spark you once had?

Two years later, Trace and Olivia are as much in love as they’ve always been. But the spark they once had for life is waning and Trace is determined that they find it again. His solution? A road trip. But he doesn’t tell Olivia the real reason they’re heading north.

Olivia is happy to go on a road trip and have more adventures with Trace. Besides, she needs a distraction from the soap opera her life has become. With college over, this is the perfect opportunity to chase down the carefree girl she once was.

But life isn’t a fairytale and you can only escape reality for so long.

Love, laughs, and a hidden agenda.

That’s the name of the game when you’re Chasing Olivia.



1. Origin [Lux 04] by Jennifer L. Armentrout!
 
Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?

And will they even be together?




AND also Sentinel [Covenant 05] by Jennifer L. Armentrout!

It's a beautiful day for a war.

As the mortal world slowly slips into chaos of the godly kind, Alexandria Andros must overcome a stunning defeat that has left her shaken and in doubt of their ability to end this war once and for all.

And with all the obstacles between Alex and her happily-ever-after with the swoonworthy Aiden St. Delphi, they must now trust a deadly foe as they travel deep into the Underworld to release one of the most dangerous gods of all time.

In the stunning, action-packed climax to the bestselling Covenant series, Alex must face a terrible choice: the destruction of everything and everyone she holds dear… or the end of herself.



I honestly couldn't pick between my number ones, so I put them both in first place! I feel a trend coming on from last year with Jennifer L. Armentrout books lol!

So there you have it! My top 13 books of 2013! I hope you enjoyed reading some of these books as well! :)

Monday 30 December 2013

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Chasing Olivia [Trace + Olivia 02] by Micalea Smeltzer!


Publication date: 20th December 2013
Paperback edition: -
Source: Kindle
Rating: 5 stars
Synopsis:
How far would you go to reignite the spark you once had?

Two years later, Trace and Olivia are as much in love as they’ve always been. But the spark they once had for life is waning and Trace is determined that they find it again. His solution? A road trip. But he doesn’t tell Olivia the real reason they’re heading north.

Olivia is happy to go on a road trip and have more adventures with Trace. Besides, she needs a distraction from the soap opera her life has become. With college over, this is the perfect opportunity to chase down the carefree girl she once was.

But life isn’t a fairytale and you can only escape reality for so long.

Love, laughs, and a hidden agenda.

That’s the name of the game when you’re Chasing Olivia.


If you thought Finding Olivia was good, then you haven't seen anything yet! Chasing Olivia takes you on a road trip you won't want to end! Hot characters, amazing plot, perfect ending, I cannot recommend this book and series enough! I completely adored the first book in this series, so I couldn't believe it when the author asked me if I would like to beta read this book! I was seriously happy about getting my Trace fix early ;) Beta reading this book was so awesome! The author is such an amazing writer! This book was pretty different to the first book in the series, but it was all about seeing the characters develop after what they had been through in the first book! I freaking loved it! The plot was so cute and so hot! I loved the whole idea of it with the road trip and the real reason for the road trip! There were also some seriously sad points in the plot as well that sort of make you value life that little bit more! The plot for me went at the perfect pace and there were some twists and turns to keep it interesting and to keep me wanting to read on, even though I would have read on regardless lol! The plot was a little bit different to what I was expecting, but I do like when that happens with a book and I loved that the plot of this book had me gripped, even though it wasn't very climatic! The plot wasn't supposed to be climatic though because it was about the two main characters relationship! The characters were again amazing! Olivia was again the main female character and she had grown so much since the first book! She was more at ease with herself and that was pretty amazing to see! I still connected with her brilliantly as well! Olivia in this book got to see the real value of family and that was all because of Trace! He showed her just how much family means and to treasure it while it's there! I just overall loved Olivia and her personality in this book and the first book! Trace in this book was so funny! He was still so sarcastic and so full of himself that it makes me love him even more! Plus, he still wore plaid! I mean, hello! I want a guy like Trace! Seriously! Trace also continued to push Olivia outside her comfort zone in this book, which in turn, made her grow more confident! I just adored Trace and his hotness! Trace and Olivia easily became one of my favourite book couples after reading Finding Olivia, but after reading them in this book, it sealed the deal for them being in my top five favourite book couples! They are such an amazing couple and I've loved every second of reading their story! The ending of this book was perfect! Absolutely perfect! I actually spend half an hour just sitting there crying it was that perfect lol! I'm really sad that this is the end of Trace and Olivia's story, but another character in this book, Trent, will be getting his own book and Trace and Olivia are hopefully going to make appearances in that one, so I'm excited to see how Trent's book is going to go! The cover for this book is absolutely stunning! It suits the first book's cover perfectly as well! I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it! Big thank you to Micalea for an allowing me to beta read Chasing Olivia and to Stephanie's Book Reports for having me on the Blog Tour!

 
Check it out on Goodreads!

Check out the Book Trailer here!
P.S. I made it ;)

Check out my review for the first book, Finding Olivia, here!

Buy your copy of the first book in the series, Finding Olivia, from Amazon: http://amzn.to/1hOGsGV
Buy your copy of Chasing Olivia from Amazon: http://amzn.to/KeokLo

 
Author bio:

Micalea Smeltzer is an author from Virginia. Her name is pronounced Muh-call-e-uh. She is permanently glued to her computer, where she constantly writes. She has to listen to music when she writes and has a playlist for every book she’s ever started. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading a book or playing with her three dogs.



Giveaway!
 

Sunday 29 December 2013

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: The Ultimate Betrayal [The Tucker Girls Novels 01] by Lacey Leigh!



Rainey lived with her father (Martin Tucker) and sister (Mariah Tucker) in a small po-dunk town in Alabama known as Covington. Her mother was killed in a horrific car accident when she was seven years old.
 
                Rainey was in love with a wonderful man that treats her with respect and kindness. Everyone including her father was against their relationship at first because of the age difference between them. They were happy together until she moved away to college. The case concerning her mother’s murder was reopened, and she was betrayed by the people she should have been able to trust above anyone else.
 
            Does Rainey and Jake’s relationship survive all the pain and hurt that they are destined to endure? Will her mother’s murder be solved? Will their love overcome…
 
The Ultimate Betrayal?
 
Add it to your TBR list on Goodreads!
 
Author bio:

Lacey Leigh is a stay at home mother of three. Her children are very active in school activities and keep her really busy but she still finds time to put her stories out there for everyone to enjoy.

Lacey's husband is medically retired from US ARMY. Though she hates that he had to leave the job he loved so much she is glad to have him home with her children and herself.

Lacey's books are written for ADULT audiences ONLY. All audiences are encouraged to read the warning in the front of the book BEFORE purchasing/reading any of Lacey's work. Lacey does NOT wish to offend ANYONE by her writing. She only wants to write for those who enjoy the work she does.

 
 
Giveaway!
 

Friday 27 December 2013

Promo & Giveaway: Dirty Blood Series by Heather Hildenbrand!

Dream Cast!


Dirty Blood [Dirty Blood 01]!
 
I killed a girl last night. I did it with my bare hands and an old piece of pipe I found lying next to the dumpster. But that’s not the part that got me. The part that scared me, the part I can’t seem to wrap my head around and still has me reeling, was that when she charged me, her body shifted – and then she was a wolf. All snapping teeth and extended claws. But by the time I stood over her lifeless body, she was a girl again. That’s about the time I went into shock… And that was the moment he showed up.

Now, all I can do is accept the truths that are staring me in the face. One, Werewolves do exist. And Two, I was born to kill them.
 
 
Check it out on Goodreads!
 
Cold Blood [Dirty Blood 02]!
 
Wood Point Academy is not at all what I expected. For one thing, it looks like a cross between military school and Buckingham Palace. Everyone stares, the floors shine so bright you can see your reflection in them from a mile away, and no one smiles. Unless they're kicking your butt in the process.

At least I've got plenty to take my mind off the fact that my psycho cousin, Miles De'Luca, keeps calling and declaring his love and promising to come for me just as soon as he's destroyed anyone standing in our way. Wes isn't going to like that idea. So between Miles, Wood Point's evil welcoming committee, and the drill sergeant hottie trainer from hell, I just keep asking myself, how did I end up here?
 
 
Check it out on Goodreads!
 
Blood Bond [Dirty Blood 03]!
 
Hybrids.

If I had to choose one word to sum up all of my problems, this would be it.
Without hybrids, I wouldn’t have to watch my best friend slowly becoming a monster. Without hybrids, I could let go of the mentality “hunt or be hunted.” CHAS wouldn’t be scouring the Earth, intent on slaughtering and using Alex to do it. Without hybrids, I wouldn’t have to be on guard that losing my temper meant losing my shape. There would be no monster inside me, struggling to get out.

Then again, without hybrids, I wouldn’t have Wesley St. John.
 
 
Check it out on Goodreads!
 
Blood Rule [Dirty Blood 04]!
 
Forty-six.
That’s how many hybrids survived the Hunter attack in the woods after I revived them with an injection of my blood. That’s how many followed me home to Frederick Falls. And that’s how many were now mentally linked to me through a blood bond.

Two days. Three valium. Fourteen hours of sleep.
That’s what it took to realize I wasn’t losing my mind as a result of the noise in my own head.

Sixteen.
That’s how many days have passed since I almost killed Alex. That’s how many days I’ve sat by his bedside, waiting for him to wake up. To ease the guilt, to understand his betrayal, to remember the exact shade of brown in his eyes.

Zero.
That’s my chances of skating by with Gordon Steppe and the Hunter Council. They want me for questioning. I’m afraid what’ll happen if I give them answers
.
 
 
Check it out on Goodreads!

Author bio:

Heather Hildenbrand was born and raised in a small town in northern Virginia where she was homeschooled through high school. She now lives in coastal VA, a few miles from the Atlantic Ocean, with her two adorable children. She works from home, part time, as a property manager and when she's not furiously pounding at the keyboard, or staring off into space whilst plotting a new story, she's lying on the beach, soaking in those delicious, pre-cancerous rays.
Heather loves Mexican food, hates socks with sandals, and if her house was on fire, the one thing she'd grab is her DVR player.

Heather is a co-founder of Accendo Press, a publishing group she operates with fellow authors: Angeline Kace and Jennifer Sommersby. Accendo (a-CH-endo), A Latin word, means “to kindle, illuminate, inflame, or set fire.” This is something Accendo strives to do inside a reader’s imagination with every title released. For a complete list of titles and author bios, visit
www.accendopress.com

Giveaway!

Thursday 26 December 2013

Promo: Talented Saga by Sophie Davis!


Talented [Talented 01]!

When Talia Lyons was just a child, her parents were murdered before her eyes. Offered a choice between accepting their fate and exacting revenge, Talia trains to become one of the country’s deadliest assassins in order to kill the man responsible for their deaths: Ian Crane. Luckily, Talia was born with a gift- the ability to read and influence the minds of others. At sixteen, Talia is poised to graduate from the McDonough School for the Talented, where she learned to control her abilities. Now there is only one obstacle standing between her and the retribution she craves... Talia herself.

Her greatest asset may also be her undoing; while a formidable weapon in the field, Talia’s talents prevent her from both shutting off the mental connection she shares with her questionable boyfriend and blocking out the thoughts of a beguiling fellow recruit. But Talia can’t afford to have the feelings and distractions of a normal teenage girl, when her life is far from normal.

She must regain the single-minded determination that has brought her this far, or it may cost Talia her life when she finally faces Crane. And even after being molded in to a weapon of war, she’ll still have to find the strength it takes to pull the trigger.

If James Bond and Sookie Stackhouse had a love child with a yearning for vengeance, her story would be TALENTED.


Grab your copy! (It's currently FREE on all platforms)


Barnes & Noble: http://goo.gl/hiQpv

Caged [Talented 02]!

After her brush with death at Ian Crane’s compound, Talia Lyons feels like a prisoner, confined in her childhood home. Plagued with seizures- the result of an unidentified drug injected in her neck by Crane’s men- Talia must put her dream of becoming a Hunter on hold. So when Agency Director McDonough asks Talia to go undercover at the School for the Talented, to find the spy who set the trap for her in Nevada, Talia jumps at the opportunity. 

 Soon she learns that her new-found freedom comes with a price- working with Donavon on a daily basis. As if that isn’t awkward enough, her former teammate, Erik, also shows up at the School. But at least Talia has the unexpected company of her best friend Penny; to not only assist her in uncovering the spy, but also to deal with the complications that the guys create.

 As Talia becomes more entrenched in her assignment, she quickly learns the lengths that the Agency and Mac will go in the name of war. With Crane’s influence spreading, Talia learns that there are few Operatives without ties to the Coalition. Forced to face hard truths and dangerous conclusions, Talia realizes that it is those closest to her who are hiding the biggest secrets. As the task of finding the traitor becomes more problematic, desperation and frustration rule Talia’s world. It becomes clear that Talia can’t do this alone. But who can she trust, when everyone around her is lying?


Buy your copy from Amazon: http://goo.gl/mbd3Bl
Barnes & Noble: http://goo.gl/eBA38p
iTunes: http://goo.gl/Na6SuL
Smashwords: http://goo.gl/mm6xkk
Diesel: http://goo.gl/l4U0qJ
Kobo: http://goo.gl/khBrQy

Hunted [Talented 03]!

In need of a distraction from her best friend's betrayal, Talia jumps at the chance to pack up and head to Washington, D.C., to have a purpose once again. She is tasked with administering the annual Talent Aptitude Tests, analyzing the children of the nation’s capital to identify those with powers. She knows that the Mandatory testing laws are controversial, but is still shocked by the protesters lining the streets of the city, and the curfew imposed upon its residents. These add fuel to her own misgivings about the Agency and its Director, the man who raised her.

As if Talia doesn’t have enough on her plate with that, the Director assigns her a task that will expose his dirtiest secrets. She soon learns that it isn't the children who are tested she needs to be concerned about; it's the ones who aren't. And when she encounters a face from her past, Talia must confront her toughest decision yet. Following her heart will put Talia and those closest to her in mortal danger. But the consequences of doing nothing are inconceivable.

The one bright spot in Talia’s new assignment is having her boyfriend, Erik, by her side. Because not only is Erik a source of comfort, but he is also as determined as she is to uncover the secrets behind the mysterious illness still plaguing her. Day after day, Talia never knows when she might be overcome by one of her unexplained seizures; she must pierce the veils of secrecy covering their origin, before someone decides she knows too much.

Life altering choices will be made. Loyalties will be tested. When the war begins, which side will Talia choose?
 

 
Buy your copy from Amazon: http://goo.gl/jdkv8W
Barnes & Noble: http://goo.gl/D0IAkQ
 
Captivated [Talented 3.5]!
 
Can't get enough of Talia and Erik? Want to know about their first meeting? Interested in what happens between the books? Dying for a peek at what's coming in Created?

Captivated is a Talented Novella that includes four short stories, two from Talia's point of view, and two from Erik's point of view. The first is a detailed account of what happened the first time Talia and Erik met. The second is all about Erik's trip to visit Talia after she was injured in Talented. The third takes place between Caged & Hunted, and gives you a glimpse at Erik's romantic side. And last, but certainly not least, the fourth story starts off right where Hunted ends.

Not recommended for anyone who has not read the first three books, unless you don't mind a lot of spoilers!


Buy your copy from Amazon: http://goo.gl/X3iNhH
Barnes & Noble: http://goo.gl/HHz4vr
iTunes: http://goo.gl/43CHiK
Smashwords: http://goo.gl/SCdejI
Diesel: http://goo.gl/TqYEoW
Kobo: http://goo.gl/9uG93f

Created [Talented 04]!

When Talia runs away from the only life she’s ever known, she could have never fathomed the lengths to which the Agency will go to get her back. But if the Agency Director- the man who raised her, trained her, and made Talia who she is- can’t have her, he wants her eliminated. Now those she once considered friends are bona fide enemies, ruthless in their pursuit of her. 

 Talia aligns herself with Ian Crane, the man she’d always believed was responsible for her parents’ murders. With Crane’s forces at her disposal, Talia sets off on her most personal mission yet: rescuing the love of her life from the Agency. But she never imagines that going after him will plunge the nation into chaos. 

 Retribution for the lives of her parents is no longer enough for Talia. She wants justice for every innocent affected by the Agency’s greed. But she soon realizes she is actually at the center of two wars- one with them and one with herself.

Talia can no longer trust the one thing that has never failed her. Her Talents are growing stronger by the day and she’s already losing control. Defeating the Agency will save countless lives, but triumph over the manufactured power within her will preserve her sanity.

The Agency will stop at nothing to perpetuate their propaganda- that the Coalition is the enemy.

Crane will do anything to expose the truth- that the Agency has been creating Talents for decades.

Her world, her life, her future with the only person who remains true… the Agency stole everything. Now, Talia will sacrifice the little she has left to reclaim what’s hers.


Buy your copy from Amazon: http://goo.gl/BDh9XH
Barnes & Noble: http://goo.gl/iP9RUD
iTunes: http://goo.gl/B1vBgF
Smashwords: http://goo.gl/BzFCNF
Diesel: http://goo.gl/cVh2rE
Kobo: http://goo.gl/8NZ5DU

Wednesday 25 December 2013

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Forever Ours [Shattered Hearts 0.5] by Cassia Leo!



Forever Ours is the highly anticipated prequel to the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Shattered Hearts Series. This can be read as a stand alone or before Relentless.

After eight years of being tossed around from one home to another, never forming any meaningful friendships or bonds with her foster families, Claire's caseworker gives her an ultimatum: Behave or your next home will be a halfway house.

When fifteen-year-old Claire arrives at the home of Jackie Knight and meets Jackie's fifteen-year-old son, tattooed guitarist Chris, she fears she'll be seeing the inside of that halfway house soon. But Chris isn't like any other guy Claire has ever encountered and he soon gains her trust through his music and unwavering patience.

Claire has finally found her forever home and she and Chris soon find themselves falling in love.

But Chris’s dreams of musical stardom and Claire’s need for a stable home soon put their love in jeopardy. Chris struggles deeply with his plans for the future, entirely reluctant to leave Claire behind; until Claire does something that may break their love — and the only home she’s comes to know — forever.

Add it to your TBR list on Goodreads!

Excerpt!

   There are moments in life that you know will be burned into your memory forever. Chris calls these “movie screen moments” — where everything slows down and you know that something important is about to happen that will change the course of the story. He says that the best songs are written about movie screen moments. I don’t know if this is true. All I know is that this is one of those moments.
   I can feel it in the air. And I know that when I look back, I’ll remember everything about this moment in time; the smells, the tastes, the sounds, and the touch. The touch.
   Chris and I are both sitting on the carpet with our backs leaned against the sofa, our fingers woven together as MTV plays in the background. This is something we’ve done every day for the past six weeks, ever since summer break began. As soon as Jackie leaves for work in the morning, we both get up and have breakfast together. He usually makes me a bowl of cereal or I make us both some scrambled eggs. Then we hang out in the living room for a few hours until his friends come over. Sometimes, Chris plays his guitar for me. Sometimes, we sit here and pretend to watch MTV, holding hands while Mr. Miyagi lays out across both of our laps, begging to be petted. Well, I don’t know if Chris is pretending to watch MTV, but I know I am.
   All I can seem to think about when I’m near Chris is whether or not this will last or if he will be just another person I have to lose. But this doesn’t stop me from enjoying these hours spent together. I’ve never been happier in all my life. Not even when my mom was alive.
   I’ll admit. I was sort of hoping today would be different then all the other mornings Chris and I have hung out. Not that I don’t like this small moment of closeness we share every day. But today’s my sixteenth birthday. I guess I figured that would make today even more special for us. I was kind of hoping I might get my first kiss.
   “Tristan’s coming over in half an hour and we’re going to the mall. You want to come?”
   My heart sinks a little. Chris knows that Tristan and I don’t get along very well. He hasn’t even wished me a happy birthday and now he’s leaving to hang out with Tristan.
   I try to let go of his hand and he tightens his grip. “What’s wrong?”
   I attempt to pull my hand away again and this time he lets go. “I don’t want to go to the mall.”
   “Are you okay?”
   I stand up and he immediately stands with me. “I’m just tired. I think I’m gonna go back to bed.”
   I take a few steps, but he grabs my hand to stop me. When I look over my shoulder at him, he’s wearing a crooked smile. “Can you take Mr. Miyagi upstairs with you?”
   My shoulders slump as I turn toward Chris’s Shiba Inu where he’s lounging on the sofa.
   Chris chuckles. “I’m only kidding. I’m not going anywhere with Tristan today. I’m taking you for a ride.”
   “What?”
   “On my bike.”
   “I’m not going on that thing.”
   Chris got his motorcycle license the week after he turned sixteen less than three months ago. He’s been trying to get me to ride with him on his crappy racing bike ever since the first time I let him hold my hand.
   “Come on,” he pleads. “I have something I want to show you, but I want to do it alone. I don’t want to ask Tristan to take us. Please?”
   I stare into his eyes for a moment and he tilts his head. His brown hair always looks calculatedly messy, the way it’s just long enough to cover his ears yet still sticks out in all the right places. His skin is so smooth; I often find myself wishing I could press my lips to his cheek just to feel the softness of his skin. And don’t even get me started on the metal stud in his tongue. The way he plays with it when he’s tuning his guitar gives me butterflies. I don’t know what Chris sees in me other than the way my hand seems to fit so perfectly in his.
   He pulls me a little closer and lifts my hand to his mouth. My heart races as he lays a soft kiss on my knuckles. “Claire, it’s your birthday. And I know you probably haven’t had a whole lot of birthdays you want to remember for the rest of your life, but I want this birthday to be the one you never forget. Let me take you for a ride.”
   I stare at his lips as he says these words and that’s when it happens. This is that moment; the moment where everything slows down and nothing is ever the same.
 
            Text BOOKLOVE to 41411 to get a text alert when this book is released.
 
Author bio:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cassia Leo grew up in California and has lived in three different countries. She loves to travel and her dream is to one day score a record deal based on her awesome shower singing skills. She is the author of the Shattered Hearts series (Relentless, Pieces of You, Bring Me Home) and the Luke and Chase series.



Giveaway!

Tuesday 24 December 2013

Release Day Blitz & Giveaway: Fractured Innocence [IFICS 02] by Julia Crane!



Kaitlyn and Erik are sent on a mission to track down Vance Dasvoik, a ruthless monster. His latest thrill—abducting and selling young women.

Vance's current victim: Aaliyah, a seventeen-year-old who never imagined walking her brother home from school one evening would change her life forever.

The mission quickly turns personal for Kaitlyn when she finds Aaliyah beaten, her mind and soul fractured from abuse of the worst kind. Kaitlyn knows firsthand what it's like to be haunted by the past and resolves to bring justice to the elusive Dasvoik.


 
Check it out on Goodreads!

Excerpt!
 
   This couldn’t be reality. Had they really been abducted? No! No! No! Please let this be a dream. A nightmare. Please let me wake up and find myself in my own bed. Things like this didn’t happen, not to her. Not to her brother! Certainly not in America.
   Her family didn’t have money, so she knew this wasn’t about ransom.
   Without moving, she scanned the room trying to gain her bearings. She was curled up on the floor in the corner of a small room, that much was obvious. Her body ached. She tried to straighten her legs out but they remained bent. She couldn’t even push herself up to sitting.
The walls were white and metal filing cabinets lined the walls. A large wooden desk sat off to the left with a computer. No windows. No pictures or paintings on the wall. Nothing personal whatsoever.
    Her eyes continued to dart around the room, finally settling on the men. They were large, wore dark suits and looked scary. One was tall with a hook nose and curly blond hair, the other was short but muscular with a bald head. They were not the same men from the car.
   Desperately, she tried to fight the panic that rose in her chest once she realized her brother was not in the room with them. Where was he? At least she knew he was alive from their comments. Too young? For what? So many questions and no answers. Maybe if she could figure out where they were they could escape.
 

Author bio:

Julia Crane is the author of the Coexist: Keegan’s Chronicles. She has a bachelors degree in criminal justice. Julia has believed in magical creatures since the day her grandmother first told her an Irish tale. Growing up her mother greatly encouraged reading and using your imagination. Although she’s spent most of her life on the US east coast, she currently lives in Dubai with her husband and three children.

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Giveaway!

For your chance to win an ecopy of Fractured Innocence by Julia Crane, please leave a comment on each Blog participating in the Release.

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Fractured Innocence Schedule

Monday 23 December 2013

Author Interview: Kristin Mayer!


Hi Kristin! Thank you for joining us! To start us off, is there anything you'd love to tell us about yourself?
 
Thank you, for having me. Let's see, which adventure should I tell you about today. I love to have fun and laugh. I'm fairly goofy and right now I'm pretty much in love with the movie Frozen. The kiddo and I have had so much fun dancing and singing about.
 
Are you surprised by the response you have had for the first book in the Trust series, Trust Me?
 
I am so humbled and blessed with the reception of Trust Me. I can’t believe it. The readers and bloggers who have read it have been wonderful with all the comments. I appreciate every note, review, and message I receive regarding the book. It’s a dream come true.
 
For the readers out there that haven't read Trust Me, could you give us five words as to how you would describe it, please?

Let’s see that’s hard… but these are the first words that came to mind.

1. Different
2. Sports
3. Love
4. Mystery
5. Trust

Do you have a playlist for your books or for when you write? If so, what kind of songs are on it?

I actually don’t write to music. I normally have the T.V. on low in the background, but don’t pay attention to it. I use it for the ambient noise. I tried writing to music a few different times, but I end up singing and dancing to it which makes it hard to write. Ha-ha!

Do you have a favorite quote from Trust Me?

I do. I think it sums up the essence of the book in so many ways.

 “Love is giving someone the chance to hurt you but trusting them not to.”

Who is your favorite character from Trust Me?

Oh, I could never pick. That would be like picking a favourite kid, niece or nephew. I love all my characters in a different way.

Are you currently writing anything? Can you tell us anything about it please?

I just turned over Love Me, Book 2, to my editor for Proofreading. I will be working on Promise Me now. It’s nearly complete and will go to the editor in January.

Trust Me, Book 1 of Trust Series: Story of Alli & Damien
Love Me, Book 2 of Trust Series: Continuation of Alli & Damien
Promise Me, Book 3 of Trust Series: Sam’s Story

I have another 2 book series I’ll begin writing in January.

Could we possibly have a teeny, tiny teaser from the next book in the Trust series, Love Me, to tide us over until its release?

For you, absolutely.

“I’m going to cherish you, Alli, for the rest of our lives and then some.” He comes toward me slowly as he unbuttons his shirt, displaying his toned chest. “I’m going to spend the rest of our lives making you happy.” His shirt drops to the floor as he goes for his belt buckle. “I’m going to be your forever.”

Do you have any advice for aspiring writer/authors?

Write from your heart. Enjoy the ups and the downs. It’s all part of the wonderful journey of publishing your first book.

Is there anything you'd like to say to your fans/readers?

Thank you for all your support, kind words, and enthusiasm for Trust Me. Each and every one of you have made the experience incredible.


Quickfire Round!

Favorite Food: Fried Eggplant
Favorite Country: Italy
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite Animal: Labrador Dog
Favorite Book: No way could I ever choose
Favorite Movie: Gone With the Wind
Favorite Drink: Water
Favorite Restaurant: Cheesecake Factory

Author bio:

Kristin Mayer is a wife, a proud mother, and a full-time Analyst and Import Manager. Since an early age, she has always enjoyed reading and writing. While visiting her father one weekend, he suggested that she should take up writing again. With family and a career, she didn’t give it a lot of thought, until a story entered her mind and wouldn’t leave. It just kept forming and developing over a couple of months.
At the beginning of 2013, she decided to sit down and write it all down, but she kept it to herself. One sentence developed into two, and before she knew it, she had the makings of a novel.

Kristin tries to live life to the fullest during every moment. She loves to travel and meet new people. She holds a degree in International Business and uses it daily in her job. Kristin now adds “author” on her list of jobs, and feels very blessed and thankful.