Feature & Follow Friday 8/30

 Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly event hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

This week's question: If you could only have ONE book-one book- 

for the rest of your life. Don't cheat...what would it be?

My Answer: If I could only have one book I would probably want [ugggggh....I don't even know what genre I want...ummmm] I guess A Tale of Two Cities.

Please share your FF Fridays and let me know what you think of my choice. 

Fueled Teaser

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Title: Fueled

Author: K. Bromberg

Series: The Driven Trilogy Book 2

Teaser: "I lean my head back, closing my eyes, and try to shove the 

memories back into hiding to no avail. Spiderman, Batman, Superman, Ironman.

Please let me know what you think of this book or this series if you have read it, and share your own teasers.

I am sorry that I haven't been posting as much lately in the past week. I am beginning college and trying to find a balance between blogging and work but I will definitely continue blogging.

Mine Cover Revel

Here is a cover that I know I've been waiting for...Katy Evan's Mine, the sequel to Real. 

Title: Mine

Author: Katy Evans

Series: The Real Series #2

Summary: In the international bestseller REAL, the unstoppable bad boy of the

Underground fighting circuit finally met his match. Hired to keep him in prime condition, Brooke Dumas unleashed a primal desire in Remington

live without her.

“Riptide” Tate as vital as the air he breathes . . . and now he can’t

Brooke never imagined she would end up with the man who is every woman’s dream, but 

not all dreams end happily ever after, and just when Remington needs her the most, 

Brooke makes a discovery that forces her away from the ringside. 

Now with distance and darkness between them, the only thing 

left is to fight for the love of the man she calls MINE.

Make sure you preorder Mine: On Amazon

On B&N  On iBooks

Preorder Real: On Amazon  On B&N 

On iBooks

And Preorder Remy: On Amazon  On B&N

On iBooks

Please let me know what you think of this cover and the Real series. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series and would like to know how you feel about Remy and Brooke.

Ghost Hand Review

Title: Ghost Hand

Author: Ripley Patton

Series: The PSS Chronicles #1

Genre: YA, scifi/fantasy, romance

Publish Date: November 20, 2012

Publisher: Ripley Patton

Length: 386 pages

Format: paperback, ebook (Amazon, B&N, Kobo)

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Description (from Amazon): Seventeen year old Olivia Black has a rare birth defect known as Psyche Sans Soma, or PSS. Instead of  a right hand made of flesh and blood, she was born with a hand made of ethereal energy.

How does Olivia handle being the girl with the ghost hand? Well, she's a little bit morbid and a whole lot snarky.

Her mother thinks her obsession with death, black clothing, and the local cemetery is a bid for attention. But when Marcus, the new guy in Olivia's calculus class, stares at her like she's a freak, Olivia doesn't like it. And when her hand goes rouge, doing things she never imagined possible, Olivia finds herself running for her life with Marcus from a group of men bent on taking the power of her hand for their own nefarious purposes.

Brief Summary: Due to a rare birth defect that causes body parts to be made of energy, Olivia becomes a target of a group called CAMFers who wish to use the energy for their own purposes at the cost of the children that the PSS was apart of. Olivia, Marcus, and a band of other PSS kids go on the run to protect themselves and others like them. Along the way Olivia discovers some interesting things about herself, her hand, and the people around her that she never imagined could be possible.

My Review: I absolutely loved this novel. This novel has the perfect balance of mystery/thriller, romance, and scifi/fantasy. Olivia is a great protagonist as she is smart and independent but she also has real life problems in her life. Her father has died and her relationship with her mother is anything but perfect.

"Dr. Sophie Black, psychologist extraordinaire, took her doctor/patient confidentiality very seriously. She never told me anything, which was pretty ridiculous in a town so small and nosey you couldn't take a crap without the neighbors overhearing and asking you how it had all come out."

The opening scene with Olivia and Marcus in the calculus class is, perhaps, my favorite of the entire novel because it sets the ground work for their relationship and other people in the scene come back to play vital roles in the end. It is during this scene that Olivia learns something new about her ghost hand, something that she has never seen before in her seventeen years. She can "pick pocket" a person's soul. I won't go into too much detail about that because of possible spoilers, but this becomes very important later in the novel.

"My mother has refused to buy a tombstone. She hadn't asked my opinion. She'd informed me, "We don't need anything to mark his grave. That's not him." So, all there was to indicate Stephen Black's place of rest, to declare his time and existence on this earth, was a small stone provided by the cemetery that said G42. G for the cemetery section, 42 for the number of the plot. Just a letter and a number so they wouldn't dig him up by accident, or bury someone on top of him. My dad was nothing but a bingo call. "

Marcus and Olivia's relationship is a very real one because not only do they not fall in love(like) instantly, but Olivia initially thinks Marcus is a stalker, which later evolves into her thinking he is a compulsive liar. Going along with Olivia through the novel it is easy to believe that Marcus is a liar and that he never wants to share the whole truth with the people around him, but after more is revealed it is easier to understand why he has trust issues and likes to keep things to himself. The other boys in their PSS group, or "piss camp" are Nose, Yale, and Jason. All three boys are great, special, and important in their own ways. I loved every single one of them. 

The thriller/mystery aspects of the novel had me finishing this novel in one sitting. It is fast paced and adventurous without feeling too rushed. I instantly hated the CAMFers and everything they stand for and wanted the kids to succeed. I also think that what Marcus is doing with the list is very noble in that he wants to save and help others with PSS before they can be harmed simply for being born the way that they are. 

Overall: Ghost Hand is one of my favorite novels of this year. I am so happy and grateful that Ripley Patton gifted me with the opportunity to review this book. I loved the thriller/action movie feel of it that kept me up late at night to finish. Being a romantic, the relationship between Marcus and Olivia is my favorite part of the novel, although it does not take away from any of the other aspects. I excitedly give Ghost Hand 5 stakes. I was also fortunate enough to win an ARC copy of the sequel, Ghost Hold, and can say with certainty that I am in love with this series and I will absolutely be reading the third novel in the PSS Chronicles series.

About the Author (from Amazon): Ripley Patton lives in Portland, Oregon with one cat, two teenagers, and a  man who wants to live on a boat. She and her family, who lived in New Zealand for five years, are survivors of the 2011 Canterbury Earthquakes.

Ripley's short fiction has been nominated multiple times for awards, and she won the Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Short Story 2009. Ghost Hand, a YA paranormal thriller, is her first novel, and the first in a three book series.

Get Ghost Hand Now: On Amazon  On B&N  On Kobo

All the Shiny Things Reveal

Here comes Robin Mahle's All the Shiny Things. 

Title: All the Shiny Things

Author: Robin Mahle

Series: Redwood Violet 2

Release Date: September 27, 2013

Synopsis of the first novel, Redwood Violet: via Goodreads:

Katie Reid is living the quintessential Southern California life. A dream job and her college sweetheart, Spencer top it all off. However, she can't seem to shake the terrible dreams that have been tormenting her nights these past few months. After seeking help to find relief from the exhausting effects of these dreams, it becomes apparent that Katie is dealing with something much deeper and much more sinister. Her only solution is to delve into a past that no one wants her to remember. 

With the horrific discovery of a dark secret kept hidden for years, Katie is drawn into a world mired in evil and lost innocence. And only with the help of Detective Marshall Avery will she be able to channel her pain and anger. But, will he be able to contain Katie's desire for vengeance that has begun to unravel her perfect life? The first in a two-part series, REDWOOD VIOLET, a fast-paced, mystery/suspense novel, will keep you up long past your bedtime!

About the Author: Bestselling Author, Robin Mahle, lives with her husband and two children in Arizona. Robin found her passion for writing, which later became her second career, after spending nearly 20 years in the construction industry. 

Having always been a lover of books, Robin attributes her creativity to the wonderful overseas adventures she has shared with her husband of 14 years. Backpacking (or certainly close to it), throughout Europe and having lived in England, opened her mind and with that came a steady stream of story ideas inspired by her author- idols in the thriller/suspense genre.

Through many late nights and weekends locked away in a room, Robin published her debut psychological suspense novel, Redwood Violet in the Spring of 2013. Intended as a two-part series, Robin is hard at work again writing the sequel, All the Shiny Things and is on schedule for a September 2013 release!

Visit her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/robinmahle

Tell me what you think of the All the Shiny Things cover. 

Hers to Choose Review

Title: Hers to Choose

Author: Lizzie Ashworth

Series: Cannon Cousins Book 1

Genre: romance, erotica

Publish Date: June 24, 2013

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Length: 266 pages

Format: paperback, ebook (Amazon)

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Description: Bryn McClure is running out of time. With foreclosure in the last stages, she's about to lose the beloved twelve-hundred acre Ozark farm she inherited from her grandparents. Her desperate last hope is to sell hunting rights for deer season. Alex Cannon is running out of options. After a humiliating discovery about his wife, Alex's cousin and property development business partner Dan has spiraled into a life-threatening depression. Alex hatches a brilliant idea of what might help Dan, and on advice from an old friend, contacts Bryn.

A hunting trip might be the prefect route to a new outlook for Dan, especially with the extra touch Alex wants from Bryn. When Bryn agrees to Alex's special request, she's thrilled not only with the promise of badly needed income, but also with the prospect of bondage and discipline. Her appetite for kink has sharpened during her lonely year of rural living. It seemed like such a good idea when she agreed to it.

But standing on her porch watching these two gorgeous men climb out of their truck and walk toward her, she thinks maybe she hadn't fully appreciated how complicated things could become. Alex stuns her with his warmth and charm, but the cold and angry Dan is the one she's supposed to submit to. By the second day, when the first spanking sparks her passions, she realizes she may be in for a wild ride.

*Adult situations and explicit language. Adults only.*

Review: Hers to Choose is a great novel about love and choices but also about hot dominance with two men. In my opinion the beginning of Hers to Choose is a little confusing because of the influx of character names and the jump right into the action without much of a back story. I really liked Dan and felt that Bryn judges him too hastily, I am so happy that she changed her thoughts about him later in the novel. Dan is going through an emotional period in his life and needs to take his frustrations out on something. I absolutely loved the scenes between him and Bryn because of their dominant and submissive natures.

Alex is more of the sensitive cousin and he goes out of his way to protect Bryn and to take care of her. Although the trip to the hunting cabin is for Dan, Alex does get some alone time with Bryn and begins to develop feelings for her. The middle of the novel angered me because of Alex's actions and unwillingness to just talk to Bryn and explain his feelings. The altercation between Bryn and her former boss upset me and I wish it hadn't happened, but it did clear some of the air between Alex and Bryn. And I absolutely loved the ending, although I would have chosen a different cousin. :)

Although I loved Hers to Choose for the most part some things did bother me. Alex and Bryn spend much of the novel denying themselves of each other because of their own stubbornness and miscommunication. Also later in the novel Bryn has a fear that what she has been doing with Alex and Dan could be considered prostitution. This confused me because, even though I have no problem with it, it made me think "What did she think trading her sexual submission for money was called?"

Overall: Overall I really enjoyed Hers to Choose and I will definitely read the sequel. I give this novel 3.5-4 stakes. I liked the sexual tension between Alex and Bryn but I loved the actual scenes between Dan and Bryn. The ending is great and I am happy with the outcome of the relationships of all three characters.

About the Author: I love to write! It's probably a sickness. No matter what I'm doing, my brain edits sentences, selects or discards words, equivocates over paragraph formation. 

My favorite part of writing is description. I want my readers to see, smell, hear, and feel what is going on in the story as if they are there. What a great experience when the words are pouring through my head and spilling out onto the page, creating a physical world!

Other pursuits have taken up parts of my life--a technical profession for a career, three children, a burning desire to learn watercolor, cooking, and gardening, to name a few. But always there has been writing. It is with deep pleasure that I now have a chance to devote most of my time to writing.

Get Hers to Choose Now: On Amazon

Ghost Hand Teaser

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Title: Ghost Hand

Author: Ripley Pattion

Teaser: "Two muscled arms closed around me, and someone pressed against my back, grinding my pack into my shoulder blades. A warm huff of a voice in my ear said, "I won't hurt y–" and before I could even struggle, I was yanked backwards off Melva Price's headstone."

Musing Mondays #4

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week...

• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you choose that/those book(s).
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it!
• Tell us what you're reading right now – what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren't) enjoying.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books – let's hear it, then!

A book that I recently bought for myself is Croak by Gina Damico. 

I chose this book because it is about Grim Reapers in training. A teenage girl, Lex is sent to live with her uncle after her parents become fed up with her behavior. Her uncle lives on a farm, but there he teaches Lex the family business of being a Grim Reaper. I also chose this book because of the cover: 

Share with me your Musing Mondays and let me know what you think of Croak.

The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy Review

Title: The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy

Author: C.C. Dalton

Series: Colebrook Academy/Confessions #1

Genre: NA

Publish Date (Re Release): August 6, 2013

Publisher: Twist Literary, LLC

Length: 51 pages

Format: ebook (Amazon, Kobo, B&N)

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Description (from Amazon): Markham Savoy is Colebrook Academy's most infamous student...
He's also the most attractive, most deviant, and most charming, but who's counting? Every Colebrook matriculant knows that Markham is in the business of making problems disappear. And Colebrook students have no shortage of problems. But his aid comes at a price–an obligation to one day repay the favor. Given the number of kids who get in trouble at Colebrook, Markham has a veritable army of willing minions to do his bidding. So the questions is, after years of collecting and collating the secrets of his peers, what exactly does Markham have in mind?

Each installment of Colebrook Academy is told from the point of view of a different student. As these characters' lives intertwine, each reveals one of the shocking, interlocking secrets that will help Markham leave behind a legacy. A final coup de grâce that the halls of Colebrook Academy will never forget.

Even though he safeguards the secrets of his classmates, Markham wouldn't be caught dead sharing his own, and he never lets romantic entanglements get the best of him. But when Piper Harrington marches into his life, he's forced to give her something in exchange for her cooperation in his schemes--his very own Colebrook Confession. And that's not the only time Piper brings out an unexpected side of himself.

Will the dirty secrets of Markham Savoy be his crowning glory...or his doing?

Review: The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy is a very enjoyable story, the only thing I did not like was the length. In this installment of the series, Markham and his friends are introduced and I feel like the basic groundwork for the other stories are established in this one. Beginning this story, I wanted to dislike Markham and although throughout I felt like he is a manipulator, I did enjoy him. I was happy to see that Markham does have one person/thing in his life that he cannot control. Piper seems like the perfect match for Markham and I look forward to seeing the development of their relationship in future installments. The supporting characters are more than filler as they feel important and the story alludes to more that will be developed later in the series. I look forward to Dane and Audi's story because I sense drama there.

Overall: I was upset with the ending of this book because I feel like as soon as I became engrossed into story, it ended. I sincerely hope that the next book is longer because I would love to see more of Markham and Piper, along with Dane, Audi, Hadley, and Vivianne. Overall, I give The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy 4 stakes and I look forward to more.

Get The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy Now: On Kobo    On Amazon  On B&N

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Interview with A.A. Bukhatir

Q&A with A.A. Bukhatir, author of Dragon Boy and the Witches of Galza.

1) How did the concept of Dragon Boy come into being?

It was a combination of several factors.  Since childhood, I loved the idea of wizards, sorcerers, witches, dragons, fairies, monsters, and the supernatural world.  I also used to dream about being able to fly.  I dreamed that I had large white wings and could fly across the continents.  I was also fascinated by fantasy movies and their special effects.   Somehow all of these elements combined and, one night, as I was driving with a friend, the idea of Dragon Boy came into my head.  As this idea took shape, I knew I had to write it down and the book Dragon Boy And The Witches of Galza came into being.

2) Why do you enjoy writing fantasy fiction?

I liked using my imagination and longings from childhood, and constructing a world in which a boy can fly.  Dragon Boy embodies my subconscious idea of being a dragon.  Fantasy fiction has allowed me to create my own world, my own characters, and my own storyline.  I pictured a special world in my mind, put it on paper, and now people everywhere can read and enjoy it.


3) Why did you write a children’s book?

Children have the best and wildest imaginations.  They are ready to accept things that adults find “impossible.”  They understand that alternate universes exist and that there are things that don’t appear in normal everyday life that could exist.  The possibilities are endless when you are a child and you don’t have the boundaries that adults have.  

My children actually helped create Dragon Boy’s story because they helped me imagine different scenarios.  When I had doubts about certain ideas, they gave me their opinions which were amazing. 


4) Who is your favorite author?

J.K. Rowling is definitely my favorite author.  But I am also very impressed by Cressida Cowel who wrote “How to Train Your Dragon.”  She has been writing since she was a child.  I realized that nothing stopped her from tapping her vast imagination and then putting it on paper and making it turn into reality!  That really inspired me.  I realized that it doesn’t matter where you are, what age you are, or who will like it or not, you can follow your muse, your imagination. 


5) Dragon Boy and the Witches of Galza is the first book in a series.  How many more books are in the series?

As of today, I have written the first two of the series.  There will be a third, perhaps more.  It all depends on the story.  I don’t want it to become boring, so when the time is right, the series will end.


6) Please tell us more about the series.

Dragon Boy is the wonderful and mysterious story of a boy who lives in a village of humans oblivious to that fact that he is in reality a dragon.  He has been entrusted to an old man who was trapped in a forest and could only find the way out by making a bargain with the Witches of Galza who have put a spell on the forest.  Encountering dragons, monsters, fairies and witches, it’s a world full of suspense and enchantment that puts the reader on the edge of their seat.  Although Dragon Boy grows up in the human village and discovers its secrets and what lies beneath, he confronts Evil and wants to help Good.  Not being able to accept himself for what really he is, he must hunt for his origins, and enter the world of an enchanted forest, wizards, witches, fairies, dragons and demon centaurs.


7) What insight can you share with us about Dragon Boy himself?

I had to imagine what a boy would go through as a child and a teenager.  I created him coming from a supernatural world filled with monsters and evil people.  Then I placed him in a world full of normal humans who lived their lives like regular people – loving, caring, hating and fighting.


8) Are any of the characters based on you?

There is no character that is based exactly on me, but I think every character takes some of my traits or ethics.  


9) Which are your favorite characters?

My favorite characters in the first book are the Sister Witches of Galza.  I love the way they think and act. They’re so bad that their reputation precedes them. And when you get to know them in the story, they’re the villains you love to hate but with respect. 


10) What do you wish to achieve from this book? 

I would love to create the vast universe of Dragon Boy and the characters in it, allowing my fans to appreciate him and the story.  I hope they will explore the bright and dark sides of my books. 


11) Did you face any challenges writing this book?  If so, what were they?

Of course!  Every work that is beautifully done should have many obstacles and challenges.  And this one had its share of challenges.  Keeping track of all the fantastical creatures and making sure that all the pieces of the story make sense were two of challenges.  And there’s always the fine line between the believable and the unbelievable.  I want the reader to be able to identify with the characters and if they are too strange, then it won’t work.  

Check out my review of Dragon Boy and the Witches of Galza here

Howling Heart Review&Giveaway

Title: The Howling Heart

Author: April Bostic

Genre: paranormal, romance

Publish Date: August 1, 2013

Publisher: Eternal Press

Length: 262 pages

Format: ebook (Amazon) On Goodreads
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Blurb: Paige Donovan is an ambitious college graduate who aspires to reach the top of the corporate ladder. She’s climbing fast when given the promotion of a lifetime at a prestigious fashion magazine in New York City. Her bright future comes to an unexpected halt after news of her father’s death. She inherits his old cabin in the Colorado Rockies and just when she thinks her luck couldn’t get any worse, she has a car accident in the mountains and awakens in the small, remote community of Black River. Soon she’s engulfed in the mystical world of Varulv—wolves descended from 12th century Scandinavia and blessed by Norse gods with the ability to appear human. Paige is desperate to return home, but never expects to fall for her rescuer, Riley Gray, a charming young werewolf from England who offers her an alternate future with his pack. Now she must choose between the career she’s always wanted and the love she’s always dreamed.

Review: The Howling Heart is one of the best books that I have read recently. Going into this novel I had a feeling I would enjoy it because I love werewolves. Learning about Varulv and Norse gods only enhanced the story because while reading paranormal books I find it fascinating to learn how exactly the supernatural can be explained. Paige and the Gray family are so realistic that they jump off the page. I began to care for all of them and felt everything along with them. Riley's love for Paige is so magnificent and pure that I instantly wanted them to be together although I understood Paige's apprehension. I loved that they had met as children and come together later in life.

Characters: I love Paige. She is independent and strong but 

able to love and accept the love of a dominant wolf like Riley.

I want Riley all to myself. He is sexy, protective, and

 just pretty much perfect in every way. Some people might have 

a problem with his aggressiveness and instant love for Paige but that 

is all a part of his wolf nature. Quinn, Riley's sister, I felt bad for. She has difficulty 

finding a mate because she refuses to be submissive. And her secret involving

 Dominic made me want to cry for her.

I absolutely hate Dominic for everything he does. There are just no redeeming qualities

 about him and...sorry I won't rant but he is definitely the antagonist of this novel.

Riley's actions to bring Paige back to him are incredibly sweet and made me love him even more. The situation (vague because of spoiler) with Dominic infuriated me in ways I never knew I could be. The resulting complications with Riley made me cry. I do not know what I would have done in Paige's situation and I am so glad it gets resolved. I was a little upset with his choice in the end because I do not think that it was the right one for their relationship, however maybe it can work with Riley's new, potential job. I would love a sequel. Maybe Quinn's story and a follow up on Riley and Paige.

Overall: The characters, setting, and overall story of this novel make it one of my favorites for this year. I think Riley and Paige are absolutely perfect for each other and was so happy with the outcome, even though I was a little surprised with Riley's decision. I happily give The Howling Heart 5 stakes.

About the Author: April Bostic is a New Jersey-based romance author who enjoys unleashing her creativity and letting her imagination run wild. Her love of romance books inspired her to become not just a reader, but also a writer. In December 2008, she self-published her first novel, a contemporary romance with a supernatural twist entitled "A Rose to the Fallen." Her first short story, "Right Here, Right Now," released in January 2012 is an erotic romance with a dash of S&M. The following year, she released two more short stories: a romantic urban fantasy inspired by the Greek myth of Eros and Psyche entitled, "Eros, My Love," and a sexy romantic comedy entitled "Love Addiction." After five years, she will release her second novel "The Howling Heart" in August 2013, a paranormal romance that delves into the mystical world of werewolves and Norse gods. Visit her at: http://www.aprilbostic.com/

Get Howling Heart Now: You really should. Amazon
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Feature & Follow Friday 8/16

 Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly event hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

This week's question: Share something you've learned about book blogging of just blogging in general in the past month.

Something that I am learning is to not overbook. Such as do not agree to/accept/get books to review too many books at once, especially when there are real life things going on. As you know school is starting in many places, I am about to begin my first year of college/university so I am in for a lot of changes. However, my love of books and weak will power has me facing a daunting TBR pile and upcoming schedule. 

Share with me something that you have learned and leave a comment below.

War of Desire Review

Title: War of Desire

Author: G.D. Campbell (Denele Pitts Campbell)

Genre: I don't really know how to describe it, (action, erotica) I guess

Published: July 3, 2013

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform 

Length: 262 pages

Format: paperback, ebook (Amazon)

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Description (From Amazon): Facing shortages of water and food, the land on fire, and mysterious illness on the rise, American voters in 2042 shift the nation's resources away from entrenched moral prohibitions. Houses of sexual pleasure spring up across the nation, especially popular with women who flock to Rae Stewart's successful enterprise, House of Rae. Working with Rae in the early years of the franchise, lover and right hand man Lu Haverson discovers the physical power of pleasure energy and its effect on illness. Soon a network of energy grids channel pleasure energy to the population, reducing violence and disease. By 2055, sex is the new penicillin. But not everyone applauds the new ways. Incensed by the unholy tide of promiscuity, extremists hone young zealot Josh Carter as the inside man in a plot to bring down the flagship of Rae's franchise, the Kansas City House. Josh passes Rae Stewart's interview, intriguing her with his angry innocence. But everything from Josh's luminosity to his physical prowess triggers Lu's worst fears. When Rae hires the kid in spite of Lu's warnings, he spearheads his own investigation. An eight-day war of desire rages.

Review: I really enjoyed War of Desire. I love Rae as the heroine in this novel. She is strong, intelligent, and knows what she wants. The message of this novel is also great because it focuses on the empowerment of women and religious organizations that try to use religion or God to carry out hateful actions. I appreciated this aspect of the novel because it is a very real situation that is happening in today's world. Knowing the truth about Josh, I found it very hard to like him. I kept wanting Rae to discover the truth about him before it became to late. Josh seems like the typical impressionable teenager who gets in over his head. However, that did not make the novel any less enjoyable. Lu is, perhaps, my favorite character and I was delighted with the ending. I wished it would have happened sooner and was so happy that he did the undercover work that he does in order to discover the truth. The pleasure becoming an energy source sort of takes a back seat to the actual sex and action. The climax of the novel disappointed me, but not because it was poorly written or predictable. I was disappointed because I did not want it to happy. I like HEAs and I had hoped for a different outcome. Although the ending did satisfy me.

Overall: Overall I give War of Desire 5 stakes. I found it incredibly interesting and will definitely read it again. I am also extremely excited that there is a sequel coming.

About the Author (From Amazon): Denele loves to write, whenever she's not keeping up with her hound dog Weezie or staring off into the Ozark woods where she lives. Then there are two cats, the goldfish, the firewood, and keeping her house in reasonable order, which is a very low priority. She wrote her first book when she was five. Her mom probably still has it tucked away somewhere in a scrap book. Everyone in her family liked to read but she never found enough books at home to keep her satisfied. In desperate moments, she read the dictionary and encyclopedias. Choosing a major for a college degree? No brainer. The magnificent English language. She's studied poetry and fiction as an undergraduate, and worked through several graduate level courses in creative nonfiction. Education has its place, but the real learning began whenever she sat down to write. Sticking strictly to genre structures seems impossible for Ms. Campbell. After raising three kids, a successful career as a piano tuner/technician, a three-year stint owning and operating her own cafe, and a gob of other activities, there are simply too many divergent interests tempting her pen. Generally, works published as Denele Campbell are non-fiction. Works published as G.D. Campbell are fiction-and probably on the spicy side. 

Get War of Desire Now: On Amazon

Please tell me what you think of this novel.

August 14 WWW

To play along just answer the following 3 questions:

1) What are you currently reading?

2) What did you recently finish reading?

3) What do you think you'll read next?

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1) What are you currently reading?

I am currently reading Lisa C. Temple's Illuminating Gracie.

2) What did you recently finish reading?

I just finished G.D. Campbell's War of Desire. 

I definitely liked it, it was great.

3) What do you think you'll read next?

Next I will be reading April Bostic's Howling Heart.

Please share with me your WWW, what you think of these books, or anything else you want. Happy Hump Day.

Musing Mondays #3

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week...

• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you choose that/those book(s).
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it!
• Tell us what you're reading right now – what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren't) enjoying.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books – let's hear it, then!

Right now I am dying for several books to be released. My TBR pile is gigantic but I still cannot wait because once I begin a series I need the rest or I feel like the story is incomplete. I'm waiting for Cress of the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, the third book in the Verdantia series by Patricia A Knight, and the sequel to Bethany Aan's Hearts of Ishira. Waiting for sequels is the hardest part of loving books in my opinion. Thankfully since running a book blog I have many books to fill the void but I still have these release dates marked on my calendar.

Tell me what books you are waiting for and share with me your Musing Monday.

Dragon Boy Review

Dragons must be becoming my new obsession, I've read a few books about them lately.

Title: Dragon Boy and the Witches of Galza

Author: A.A. Bukhatir

Genre: fantasy

Published: June 6, 2012

Publisher: Xlibris, Corp.

Length: 318 pages

Format: hardcover, paperback, ebook (Amazon, B&N, Kobo)

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Brief Summary: Ostracized and ridiculed, old man Aijou is believed to be a companion to menacing dragons. However, one day Aijou stumbles upon a baby dragon who becomes vital to his life and to the lives of butterbaby fairies, prey to dragons and their opponents in a long feud.

Review: Being honest, I had mixed feelings about Dragon Boy. The characters and dialogue seem over the top. Aijou, Shiawa, and Rasaia are very dramatic. Their dialogue verges on argumentative and tense for majority of the novel. They are constantly snapping, shouting, exclaiming, and answering sarcastically. And while I like a bit of tension and a little shake up so a story does not get boring, it borderlines on awkward and left me not wanting to continue reading, however I did because the story is quite good. Also Rasaia seems to whine and moan about everything. He always seems to land the trio into trouble and always has to be rescued by Shiawa and then wanting to take the credit for her achievements.

Now that my little rant on the characters is over...

I enjoyed this novel. I like the concept of a war between dragons and fairies and finding a savior. I also like how despite the way Aijou is treated in his town, being isolated and ridiculed, he is still devoted and loving towards the baby dragon. The journey with the trio and the baby is an adventure that I believe many will like. They face many obstacles and have to use clever ideas to free themselves. The ending is great when he returns to town and makes some friends.

Overall: The way the novel ends it is apparent that it will have a sequel. I do think I would read a sequel to see the baby grow up and if he actually succeeds in his intended duty. I give Dragon Boy and the Witches of Galza 3.5-4 stakes because I did really like it but I think some things could have been different.

Get Dragon Boy and the Witches of Galza Now: On Amazon  On B&N  On Kobo

Dead Sexy Dragon Review

Title: Dead Sexy Dragon

Author: Lolita Lopez

Series: Dragon Heat #1

Genre: Fantasy, romance

Published: August 6, 2013

Publisher: Forever Yours

Length: 97 pages

Format: ebook (Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Sony ereader)

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Description (from Amazon.com):  "The last thing dragon shifter Stig Wyvern needs is his dead friend's kid sister showing up on his doorstep, especially since he's just minutes away from entering a mating phase. Sharing his isolated house with the young woman he's desperately lusted after for quite some time is a recipe for disaster.

But Cora Cardenas has nowhere else to go. She's in deep trouble with some really nasty people and Stig is the only one who can protect her. That he's deliciously sexy and makes her tingle with the simplest of smiles is an added bonus.

Cora quickly realizes Stig is hiding something from her. To make matters worse, she's plagued with breathtakingly naughty dreams starring a shadowed lover who bears a startling resemblance to her host. And what the hell is going on in the basement at night?

Stig needs to get Cora out of his housebut his inner beast has other ideas. He's found his mate and she's not going anywhere."

Review: I really liked Dead Sexy Dragon. It was quick and a light romance. Stig is a big and tough marine who just so happens to also be a centuries-old dragon. One day, his best friend's baby sister shows up on his dorm step...right at the beginning of his mating phase. Cora lands into trouble that she cannot handle and goes running to the man who promised to protect her, and the man she's always been attracted to. I think Stig and Cora are a perfect match. The quick escalation of their relationship and the sex is explained because of Stig's mating phase. Usually I like a little more build up but the sexual tension between the two is so strong that I didn't mind. I quickly became jealous of Cora and I wanted to have her dreams.

Stig and other dragons are hunted by a group called the Knights because of a millennia-old feud. Cora's troubles bring her closer to the dragons than she ever thought. I really appreciated the development in Cora and Stig's relationship because it clears up the apprehension and complications of their relationship (sorry I have to be vague but it is a massive spoiler).

Overall: Dead Sexy Dragon is a dead sexy read. Cora and Stig's relationship is so potent and irresistible that you are left with no choice but to root for them. I love the ending and am super happy with the development in the relationship and the interaction with the Brotherhood. I give this novel 5 stakes and will be anxiously awaiting Red Hot Dragon's release in October.  

About the Author (from Amazon.com): While browsing bookstore shelves as a teenager, Lo discovered the erotic writings of Anais Nin and A.N. Roquelaure. Certain her mother would not approve, Lo smuggled the books home and squirreled them away in the most likely of places: under her bed. Late at night, she delved into the sensual worlds both writers created. As a co-ed studying bio-chemistry and genetics at Texas A&M University, Lo dabbled in creating naughty tales to entertain her friends. Study for a midterm of pen a deliciously dirty story to delight her small band of fans? Not surprisingly, Lo is now on an extended sabbatical from college. Luckily, Lo stumbled onto the world of erotic romance publishers. She realized there were other readers and writers who loved and craved breathtaking romance with the spiciest of love scenes. She took a chance a submitted her first novella. The rest is history.

Get Dead Sexy Dragon Now: On Amazon  On B&N  On Kobo   On Sony

*I received this book from Netgalley