Review: Til Death by Kate Evangelista

Goodreads Summary:

Sixteen-year old Selena Fallon is a dreamer. Not a day-dreamer, but an I-see-the-future kind of dreamer. Normally this is not a problem as she has gotten pretty good at keeping her weird card hidden from everyone in her small town. Except from her best friend Kyle and her grandparents, of course. But when Selena dreams of her own rather bloody death, things get a little too freaky even for her.

Enter Dillan Sloan. Selena has seen the new guy in a different dream, and he is even more droolworthy in person. Beyond the piercing blue eyes and tousled dark hair, there is something else that draws her to him. Something…electric. Unfortunately, Dillan makes it more than clear that he does not feel the same. They just met, so why would he act like he hates her?

When Dillan and Selena are forced together one weekend to work on a school project, Selena prepares to be ignored as usual. But when she stumbles across a few undead in the backyard, Dillan comes to her rescue and reveals a whole lot more. Not only is he part of a society that hunts otherworldly creatures…she is too. And she is being targeted by a force bigger and darker than anything she ever imagined. Despite her death dream, Selena is not going to give up easy, especially when she discovers that Dillan might not actually hate her after all.

Publication Date: March 4, 2014

I really liked the setup of Til Death and I though Dillan and Selena were great characters. The mythology of the supernatural beings was developed fully and I liked how the Illuminari followed a hierarchy that dictated the power of the being. Overall, a good paranormal romance novel for fans of books geared towards the younger teen crowd.

Selena was likable and she had a lot of qualities that made her a heroine to cheer for. I especially liked her tight friendships and the way she was able to stand up to her cheating ex. She also wasn’t struck dumb by Dillan’s gorgeousness and stood up to him when he was being a jerk.

Dillan was arrogant and had a few moments where I wished I could jump into the book and smack him over the head. But he grew on me and I ended up liking him more as the story progressed.

The central mystery was intriguing and I was curious over how the author would tie everything together. Some of the plot I guessed, but there were some unexpected twists thrown in that made me further invested in the outcome.

My biggest pet peeve was the text speak. I mention this because it’s a personal reading preference but I hate it in real life just as much in reading. For instance, Selena would write things to her friends like “Don’t be a h8r, I’ll give you the 411 l8r.” That may not be a direct quote, but I’m sure you get the idea. There was also a POV switch from chapter to chapter that took a little to get used to.

Overall, Til Death is a solid foundation for the series. The book did have a younger feel to it, so I’d recommend the novel to the 14-17 year old set.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Book Spotlight and Giveaway: The Seer's Lover by Kat De Fall

The Seer’s Lover Media Kit

Genre:  Mainstream Paranormal/Paranormal Romance

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Link to Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/17gFt26ncoU

Available on Amazon: ebook and print  FREE April 8-12th

Available from The Wild Rose Press in print

World Wide Release Date:  June 4^th, 2014

Tag Line:

Calise Rowe's question of who walks among us

leads her into an ancient war between seers and demons.

Book Blurb:

For years, Calise Rowe has been able to sense unusual energy from people, making her believe she is different.  Pulled into an ancient war raging for centuries between demon hunters and seers, she's about to find out she's right.

Her search for the truth leads her to Lucas Rojas, a seer of angels and demons who walk the earth shrouded from normal human eyes.  He's hidden his gift for years and refuses to endanger Calise by sharing it with her.

In the sultry Costa Rican Jungles, their worlds collide.  As their passion and desire ignite, so does the ancient war between demons and seers.  Will their combined efforts be enough to save themselves and the entire human world, or will their new found love be their downfall?

Excerpt:

She traced a circle in the sand with her finger.

Why would she disclose her whole existence to someone she’d just met? Someone who talked so little about himself that she found herself talking to fill the void. Saying things she could barely admit in her own head.

His hand covered hers. “I’m lonely, too. Getting to know you this week has been the brightest point in my life and I don’t want you to leave, but I know the only place you’ll be safe is far away from me.”

She swallowed. He had read her mind.

He lay down on his back and closed his eyes. “Cali, you know when you hear a song for the first time and you kind of ingest it? You can’t possibly know right away that it will be one of your favorite songs for the rest of your life. A classic.”

“Yeah.” She hoped he was going somewhere good with this.

“That first listen,” he continued, “you pick up a little of the melody and some lyrics that catch you. But when the song ends, you have to hear it again because you want to memorize all the words and sing along. After you hear it a few times and learn the words inside and out, then you begin to let the melody seep inside you. Next thing you know, you’ve completely digested the song and find yourself humming it while you are doing nothing, like shaving or driving your car. Finally, the song becomes so ingrained it becomes a part of you. Forever. You can recall it and it’s with you whenever you need it. Am I making any sense?”

She nodded, blinking back the tears fighting to fall.

“Cali, I don’t want you to go back because you’re my favorite song.”

Bio:

Author Kat de Falla was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she learned to roller skate, ride a banana seat bike, and love Shakespeare thanks to her high school English teacher.

Four years at the UW-Madison wasn’t enough, so she returned to her beloved college town for her Doctor of Pharmacy degree and is happily employed as a retail pharmacist where she fills prescriptions and chats with her patients.

She is married to her soul mate, classical guitarist, Lee de Falla and raising four kids together ala the Brady Bunch.

Kat’s Links:

Author Website: www.katdefalla.com

Blog: www.quillorpill.blogspot.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/@katdefalla

Facebook:www.facebook.com/authorkatdefalla

(message me to join my street team!)

Additional Information:

Visit www.bayafaya.com for FREE music downloads arranged by ningen9 that accompany this book:

1.   Anna’s Dance is a jazzy bossa nova meant to accompany chapter two.

2.   Shane's Torment is a churning soundscape of despair meant to accompany chapter six.

3.   Cali and Lucas First Dance is a Latin fusion instrumental love song meant to accompany chapter twelve.

As I touch on Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) in this book, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to www.iorphan.org

Purchase Links:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ILXE2NO/ref=docs-os-doi_0

http://www.amzn.com/B00ILXE2NO

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Awaking by Madeline Freeman

Goodreads Summary:

Morgan Abbey’s life is about to change.

Just weeks before her senior year is set to begin, a mysterious stranger approaches Morgan with information that has far-reaching ramifications. First, the psychic ability she believes she has just been pretending to have since middle school might actually be real.

Second, her mother, who disappeared abruptly and completely almost a decade ago, might still be alive.

Morgan finds herself in the drawn into a centuries-old struggle involving a group of people who quietly coexist alongside the common people of the world. This shadowy group believes it is time for them to reclaim their former positions of power—and they believe Morgan is the key.

But when the time comes, will Morgan be able to do what it takes to reunite with her mother and fulfill her destiny?

Publication Date: August 10, 2011

Awaking was a quick and easy read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I liked the main characters and found the secondary characters all well developed. It was a solid series starter with an introduction to the supernatural world that the author created.

I found all the characters interesting with my favorites being Morgan and Corbin. Morgan was a good main character and I was happy to find her accept her place among the Naturals fairly quickly. Corbin was a sweetheart and I’m hoping he turns out to be Morgan’s love interest in subsequent books.

The plot moved at a good pace, but I was hoping for a bit more conflict. There were a few action scenes at the very end of the novel, but I didn’t really feel much suspense in the book. The novel was more of an introduction of the Naturals and how Morgan and her friends fit into the world.

World building was done well and I didn’t feel lost when getting a handle on the mythology. I found it a little predictable at times, especially when it came to figuring out who the bad guys were. I wished Morgan had been a little less trusting, but I empathized with her drive to find out what happened to her mother. Her mom had disappeared years earlier without a trace.

The romance was just touched upon with several possible love interests. I was a fan of Corbin, but it seemed like a spark was also there between Morgan and Lucas. However, it didn’t feel like the start of an annoying love triangle though.

Overall, I really liked Awaking and I’m curious to see what happens next in the series.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Stacking the Shelves #85

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and features books you've added to your shelves, both physical and virtual.

Purchased:

Damaged 2 by H.M. Ward

The Hyde Series by Lauren Stewart

For Review:

The Recruit by Fiona Palmer

Getting By by Claudia Y. Burgoa

The Golden Apple by Michelle Diener

Searching for Sky by Jillian Cantor

Dear Nobody: The True Diary of Mary Rose

Compulsion by Martina Boone

Review: The Haven by Carol Lynch Williams

Goodreads Summary:

For the teens at The Haven, the outside world, just beyond the towering stone wall that surrounds the premises, is a dangerous unknown. It has always been this way, ever since the hospital was established in the year 2020. But The Haven is more than just a hospital; it is their home. It is all they know. Everything is strictly monitored: education, exercise, food, and rest. The rules must be followed to keep the children healthy, to help control the Disease that has cast them as Terminals, the Disease that claims limbs and lungs—and memories.

But Shiloh is different; she remembers everything. Gideon is different, too. He dreams of a cure, of rebellion against the status quo. What if everything they’ve been told is a lie? What if The Haven is not the safe place it claims to be? And what will happen if Shiloh starts asking dangerous questions?

Publication Date: March 4, 2014

The Haven was a quick and captivating read. The premise was horrifying and there was plenty of dread as Shiloh starts to find out the secrets surrounding her stay at the hospital. I can’t say what she discovers without revealing major spoilers, but the book picked up a lot after Shiloh learns what’s really going on at The Haven.

Shiloh is definitely a character that grew on me and I liked her much more after the plot twist. The romance with Gideon is sweet and slow building and they had an awkward cuteness about them. The romance took a backseat to the plot as Shiloh and Gideon start fearing for their lives.

The villains were creepy and I liked never knowing who the good or bad guys were. A few scenes in the medical ward made me think the book would be such a scary horror movie. The descriptions were gruesome and left me squeamish at times.

The world building was definitely confusing at first. It worked because Shiloh is confused and she has a hard time keeping track of time. Half the time Shiloh seemed barely lucid, so I was stumped over why she was needed by the rebellion for her supposed good memory. After the twist, I had a ton of questions and I was a little disappointed that they were never addressed. The ending was also very open ended and I’m hoping there are plans for a sequel.

Overall, The Haven is an interesting book with plenty of potential. I have heard of a few books with similar plots, but this was the first one I read. The book is a good choice for YA fans who want a mysterious and creepy read.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Cover Reveal: Chasing Shadows by Tia Silverthorne Bach

About Chasing Shadows (Tala Prophecy, Book 2)


Reagan thought one night changed her life forever, but her fate was written long ago.

Merging creature
and white blood,

One of flame,
one of night,

At eighteen
years it will commence,

Spiritual
warrior and power,

Will bring an
end to the lawless ones.

A war looms: One that pits brother against brother for werewolf supremacy. Angels
and demons will each have a say before a victor is chosen.

With her eighteenth birthday only six months away, time is running out. Reagan must
find a way to harness the two powerful, ancient bloodlines coursing through
her: Werewolf and Wiccan. Then, she has to figure out her role in the
century-old prophecy foretold by her great-grandmother.

However, if Reagan can’t save her family from her most vicious rival, Rafe, the forces of Hell will be unleashed and the war will be over before it starts.


Add Chasing Shadows to GoodReads


Cover design by Jo Michaels

About the Author

Tia Silverthorne Bach is an avid reader, sometimes runner, involved wife and mother, and rabid grammar hound in addition to being a multi-genre writer. Her three daughters were born in Chicago, San Diego, and Baltimore; and she feels fortunate to have called many places home. She's the award-winning co-author of Depression Cookies, a coming of age story written with her mother. Tia's office is wherever her laptop takes her and any place that's conducive to allowing a wild imagination like hers to flourish.


Connect with Tia: website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, and GoodReads.

Review: He's Come Undone by Theresa Weir

Goodreads Summary:

This HEA story is a deep, dark, sexy, funny, and emotional read.

Penniless and behind on rent, college student and once famous child actress Ellie Barlow takes on the role of a lifetime when she's hired by a group of young women to break the heart of the campus player who cruelly dumped them.

Transformed from slob slacker to jaw-dropping beauty, Ellie is dressed, styled, bleached and waxed, her chunky glasses exchanged for violet contacts. Along with physical prepping, she's coached on Julian's obsessions, which include long-distance running, Doctor Who, and J.D. Salinger.

In no time, Julian is in pursuit of his custom-made next victim, but when Ellie goes off script and begins to fall for her target the newest broken heart in this risky game could be her own.

Publication Date: March 1, 2014

Wow, this book was completely unexpected. From the blurb, I thought it would be more of a reformed playboy type of romance. Although there are lighthearted moments in the first half, the book takes a darker turn in the second half.

Ellie was very likable. I wouldn’t normally root for a heroine who takes money to fool a heartbreaker, but it worked. I liked how she was at her lowest point when she meets Julian, but she still has an unbreakable spirit. She never complained about the hand life dealt her, but instead tried to find ways out of the mess.

I thought Julian would be horrid. But I really liked him and my heart broke from him once it was revealed all he had endured. His past redeemed his actions against the women he dumped before meeting Ellie.

The first half had some laugh out loud moments. But there was also major chemistry between Julian and Ellie. So much angst happened between the pages, but the break-ups and make-ups felt believable. There were a few super intense scenes between them and this was one book where I was unsure if they would get their happily ever after.

He’s Come Undone had a lot of heat and the sex scenes were pretty off the charts. They were a little sad too because of how desperate Julian seems to be to use physical connections to erase his pain.

The second half had some very dark moments and I wouldn’t recommend the book if you’re looking for a sweet, candy-like contemporary romance. I enjoyed both parts of the novel and I did speed read through it. This is the second book I’ve read by the author and I definitely enjoy her work.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!