The Road to Hell: The Book of Lucifer by Christopher C. Starr

SYNOPSIS

You already know my name and, yes, I am that Lucifer.  Fall from Heaven, Garden of Eden, ruler of Hell, Satan, the Devil, the Adversary, blah blah blah.  I am the one you condemned without, what do you call it? A fair trial.  Forget what you think you know:  I want to tell my side of the story.  The Road to Hell is all about how a pathetic group of short-sighted angels kicked me out of Heaven. 

Humans are naturally curious and I suspect you’re asking ‘why now?’  Well, He has a book and it’s been pretty successful, so I figured what the hell?  Found a ghostwriter and gave it a go.  After all, the story is fantastic!  It has everything you clods of dirt crave:  a love story, a little sex, intrigue.  Murder.  War.  Lots of blood.  And a cast of characters you already know and love—Michael, Gabriel, Raphael—along with a host of others.  Even has a special guest appearance by the Father and that damned boy. 

So, let’s get down to business or brass tacks or whatever colloquialism works for you.  I have plenty to say and plenty of time:  The Road to Hell is just the first in a series of novels about my experience with Him, with my brothers and sisters, with you.  If you’re interested in featuring me, reach out to the pile of dust below; if not, well, I’ll see you soon.

Excerpt from the Road to Hell:

Lucifer heard me: as soon as my feet touched the glass surface of his platform, he laughed aloud and doused all the light in Heaven.

“I know why you’re here, Raphael,” Lucifer said in the darkness. “You’re afraid.”

I was afraid but I wasn’t willing to admit it. Instead I said, “Why should I be afraid? The Father is with me.”

“You sure about that?” And I could see Lucifer’s teeth glinting in the light wafting from my body. He was smiling. “You think he’ll still back you up now that you’re failing him?”

His face was the color of fire, deep and red, and a haze made him seem like a mirage. Even in the darkness, in the heat of his rage, Lucifer was still beautiful. His thin face, the angular cheekbones, his wide, open eyes, his halo of shimmering hair—all presented a portrait of absolute perfection. Even in this dark hour, I envied the crude formation of my own round face, my pudgy nose, the softness of my jawline. 

I tried to sound as sure of myself, as certain as he was but my voice cracked, “I’m not failing—”

He pounced on me, laid long, thin fingers on my shoulders, pushed that gleaming grin into my face. “Sure you are! Why else would you be here, Peace Keeper? Angels are dead, Raphael. It’s slipping through your fingers. Sounds like failure to me.”

“This is your doing!” I pressed him back.

“Raphael, you insult me; finger pointing seems so…beneath you. Besides, I’m bound, remember?” He fondled the chains streaming from his wrists and ankles, smiled at me again. “You chained me up so I couldn’t cause any problems for the others. Weren’t those your words?”

He was right. And I hated him for it. “Yes,” was all I said.

“So you failed them or you failed him. Either way, you’re a failure, kiddo.”

“I want to talk about what we do next.”

He was walking around me now. I could hear the chains scraping the surface of the glass.

“And I want to talk about your fears,” he said and his voice sounded like velvet in my ears.

            “This doesn’t help us, Lucifer. It doesn’t help us end this nonsense. ”

“Maybe I don’t want to end it. Maybe this is exactly what we need.”  He got louder, bolder. Closer. “Does that scare you, Raphael, that you won’t be able to keep it together? Is that why you tremble in the darkness? Because when it’s just you and the Father and all the light and noise is gone, you know you’re going to have to tell him you failed?”

He had me. I understood in that moment how Lucifer could enflame the deepest of emotions. His words touched the very root of me; spoke directly to the futility flexing in my palms. It was out of my hands—I knew that much. Lucifer knew it too. By virtue of the fact that I was there, standing before him while he taunted me, it was out of my hands.

I tried to turn it back on him, “What about your fears? What about what you’re afraid of?”

“I’m scared,” he whispered, “that the Father won’t want me back once I’m finished.” The smile was gone.

 

About the Author:

Christopher C. Starr is the author of The Road to Hell: The Book of Lucifer, the first novel in the Heaven Falls series. These stories examine the God’s relationship with Heaven and Earth, told through the eyes of the angels. The next book in the series, Come Hell or Highwater, is scheduled for late 2012/early 2013. 

Chris makes it a point to look at the dark side of his characters, both heroes and villains, and his work explores the “grey”—that place where good and evil come together in all of us.  

When he’s not being chased out of churches, Chris enjoys comic books and movies, staying away from cemeteries, and poorly participating in P90X. He lives in Seattle with his wife, two kids (The Boy and the Honey Badger), and his huskies, Rocky the Wonder Dog and his colorful sidekick, Leylah Redd. You can check out his blog at christophercstarr.net.

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Winners for Zoe Winters and Kimberly Kinrade Kindle Fire Giveaway:

The winners are as follows:

First Prize: Signed copies of Zoe Winters’ and Kimberly Kinrade’s books (all the books pictured above): Alexandra Z. (email addy starts with “vair”)

Grand Prize: Signed copies of all books plus an Amazon Gift card for $200 (to purchase a Kindle Fire or whatever the winner would prefer instead.): Valerie L. (email addy starts with “just.v”)

Blogger Prize: (the blogger with the most comments on their post): Signed copies of all books: Gracen Miller (Road to Hell blog)

If you didn’t win but thought books from either of our authors looked good, then please support them and their work! Information again for the authors and where to find their books is below:

Learn more about Zoe Winters's Preternatural Series here:

http://zoewintersbooks.com/books/

Book 1: Blood Lust


Book 2: Save My Soul


Book 3: The Catalyst


Book 4: Life Cycle

Dark Mercy (novella)

 And more about Kimberly Kinrade's Forbidden Series here:

http://kimberlykinrade.com/books/forbidden-series/

 Book 1: Forbidden Mind

Book 2: Forbidden Fire

Book 3: Forbidden Life (coming Oct. 2, 2012)

 

About Zoe Winters

 Zoe Winters writes quirky and sometimes dark paranormal romance. Her favorite colors are rainbow and clear.

To receive updates on new releases from the author, send an email to: zoewintersbooks AT gmail DOT com with "Subscribe" in the subject line. Newsletters go out only when there is an actual new release or a big contest. Your inbox will not be cluttered, newsletters won't go out more frequently than once a month, and you may unsubscribe at any time.

You can visit the author at: http://www.zoewintersbook.com

Be sure also to visit http://www.theriantype.com for some fun supplemental material.

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About Kimberly Kinrade

Kimberly Kinrade was born with ink in her veins and magic in her heart. She writes all things paranormal and fantasy, including award-winning young adult and children's books.

Visit her at http://KimberlyKInrade.com

Also visit http://IPIAcademy.com to participate in a fun fan-based site with swag and info on all things paranormal. You even get to be a secret agent!

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Desert Rice by Angela Scott - Book Tour & Giveaway

YA Contemporary
Title: Desert Rice
Author: Angela Scott

 

Date Published: 8/13/12

 

Samantha Jean Haggert is a beautiful twelve-year-old girl—but no one knows it. All they see is an awkward boy in a baseball cap and baggy pants. Sam’s not thrilled with the idea of hiding her identity, but it’s all part of her older brother’s plan to keep Sam safe from male attention and hidden from the law. Fifteen-year-old Jacob will stop at nothing to protect his sister, including concealing the death of the one person who should have protected them in the first place—their mother.

Sam and Jacob try to outrun their past by stealing the family car and traveling from West Virginia to Arizona, but the adult world proves mighty difficult to navigate, especially for two kids on their own. Trusting adults has never been an option; no adult has ever given them a good reason. But when Sam meets “Jesus”—who smells an awful lot like a horse—in the park, life takes a different turn. He saved her once, and may be willing to save Sam and her brother again, if only they admit what took place that fateful day in West Virginia. The problem? Sam doesn’t remember, and Jacob isn’t talking.

 

My Review:
 

Desert Rice by Angela Scott

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ok I am not really even sure what to say about this book, I picked it up today to read and never put it down once. Angela Scott has written a fantastic novel. I cannot express how much I enjoyed this story and Angela Scott's writing.

Where to begin but I suppose at the beginning, we are introduced quickly to Sam and her brother Jacob moving their dead mother into their trailer. Once they get the body where they want Jacob informs Sam that its time to leave. Packing as much as they could they take off in the family car. During the trip Jacob informs Sam that she has to dress more like a boy and he cuts off her hair and makes her wear baggy clothes. He doesn't want anything to happen to her, he needs to protect her and keep her safe.

Chills went up my back knowing there is more to this story and I have to admit it was well worth the read. Angela Scott has written a story that is heartbreaking and yet I couldn't stop reading. God I can't tell you how many tears I had to wipe away from my eyes so I could continue Desert Rice.

It is a must read and I have rated it a 5 star rating and I would rate it 10 if I could. It was terrific, fantastic, heart wrenching..OMG just go buy it and see for yourself no words will express how much this story is worth reading. You end up loving Sam and want to just hug her and Jacob for trying to do everything a 15 year old boy could do to keep his sister safe.

DISCLOSURE – *Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

Excerpts from Desert Rice

 

 

I was mighty grateful that he covered her up, especially when he said that death made a person look frightful, and that I shouldn't even attempt to look.

Yeah, no problem there.

"Just do it or I'll clock you upside your head." He bent down and placed his hands under her arms to get a good grip. "Grab 'er feet, and when I say lift, you'd better lift, or else."

I wanted to tell him to leave me alone, and that just because he was older than me didn’t give him the right to tell me what to do, but his warning look kept me from saying a word. I bent over to take hold of her feet and accidently breathed in the acidic smell of decay, alcohol, and cheap perfume permeating from the sheet.

Bile burned in my throat, and my eyes stung and began watering. I rolled my shoulders forward when my stomach lurched, but despite my body's mad attempt to force me to puke my guts out, only dry heaves followed, over and over. It took a while for the waves of nausea to settle, but my head swam in dizziness and my body ached—boy, did I hurt. My legs wobbled and my insides twisted and cramped, but I didn't throw up. Once the dry heaving stopped, I swiped the back of my hand over my mouth to remove a fine thread of spittle from my lips.

"I'm sorry." Jacob's face softened, though he continued to hold onto Mama's shoulders, letting me know we still needed to move a dead body. "I really am."

"Whatever." I gave in, bending and grabbing my dead mama's ankles. "Let's do this."

Author's Bio

I hear voices. Tiny fictional people sit on my shoulders and whisper their stories in my ear. Instead of medicating myself, I decided to pick up a pen, write down everything those voices tell me, and turn it into a book. I’m not crazy. I’m an author.

For the most part, I write contemporary Young Adult novels. However, through a writing exercise that spiraled out of control, I found myself writing about zombies terrorizing the Wild Wild West—and loving it. My zombies don’t sparkle, and they definitely don’t cuddle. At least, I wouldn’t suggest it.

I live on the benches of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains with two lovely children, one teenager, and a very patient husband. I graduated from Utah State University with a B.A. degree in English, not...moreI hear voices. Tiny fictional people sit on my shoulders and whisper their stories in my ear. Instead of medicating myself, I decided to pick up a pen, write down everything those voices tell me, and turn it into a book. I’m not crazy. I’m an author.

For the most part, I write contemporary Young Adult novels. However, through a writing exercise that spiraled out of control, I found myself writing about zombies terrorizing the Wild Wild West—and loving it. My zombies don’t sparkle, and they definitely don’t cuddle. At least, I wouldn’t suggest it.

I live on the benches of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains with two lovely children, one teenager, and a very patient husband. I graduated from Utah State University with a B.A. degree in English, not because of my love for the written word, but because it was the only major that didn’t require math. I can’t spell, and grammar is my arch nemesis. But they gave me the degree, and there are no take backs.

As a child, I never sucked on a pacifier; I chewed on a pencil. I’ve been writing that long. It has only been the past few years that I’ve pursued it professionally, forged relationships with other like-minded individuals, and determined to make a career out of it.

 

Where to Buy

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Contact Info

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Witch Way To Turn by Karen Y. Bynum - Blog Tour & Giveaway

Witch Way to Turn

By Karen Y. Bynum

 

Witch Way Series Book #1

 

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Lyrical Press, Inc.

 

 

Book Description

 

Can you give one guy your heart and another your soul?

 

The last thing eighteen-year-old Breena Cross needs in her life is more complications. It’s all she can do to balance studying, working, trying to keep her foster-sister safe and drooling over the new guy at work. But things go from complicated to crazy when a fit of rage ignites the dark magic inside her and she finds herself fending off the supernatural underworld.

 

Myles, Breena’s drool-worthy coworker and vampire convict, is carrying a load of secrets--one of which is that he’s fang-over-lip in love with Breena and in danger of violating the terms of his sentence.

 

Orin is a soul-hungry assassin sent to kill Breena. However, he takes one look into her eyes and sees his own lost humanity. For once thinking of someone other than himself, he chooses not to end her life, even though it means risking his own.

 

Despite a convict and an assassin fighting over her, all Breena wants is custody of her sister. But to do this, she will need help from both Myles and Orin. And if Breena doesn’t learn to control the darkness within, she could lose her sister…forever.

 

My Review:
 

Which Way to Turn by Karen Y. Bynum

I really enjoyed Witch Way to Turn and Karen Y. Bynum writing. The plot and characters were well written and the story flowed extremely well. The story is based around Breena and her sister Jenny. Breena and Jenny are living in foster care and their situation is not good. Breena will do anything to keep her sister safe from her abusive foster mother and her boyfriends.

While trying to keep Jenny safe something happens and Breena’s powers are set off. Breena is part witch and her powers seem to draw in other supernatural creatures. Because of her special powers they put her in grave danger and we other supernatural creatures are out to kill her. Jenny, Breena sister is part werewolf and witch, amazingly Jenny can see the auras of other supernatural creatures. When others are send to kill Breena we meet Orin who instead of killing her falls in love and believes Breena is his sole mate. Her coworker Myles is a vampire and he has been secretly in love with her and has been her protector for years. Of course you know this is going to be one fantastic love triangle. (Even though I hate love triangles)

Witch Way to Turn is full of action, suspense, romance and of course the dreaded love triangle….sometimes I wanted Orin and then sometime Myles, it is quite the story. The back and forth just made me want to get to the end of the book so I knew what was going to happen. Karen’s writing held my attention and made me want more. Great writing!

I cannot wait to read the next book in this series. I have rated it a 4 star rating and would recommend it to anyone who love’s paranormal romance with a twist.


I'd Like To Welcome Karen Y. Bynum to my Blog!

 

Now, enjoy the interview!

 

Hi everyone! So excited to be here today! :)

 

1. How would you describe Witch Way to Turn?

Heartfelt, fast-paced and steamy with humor woven in.

 

2.  Which character did you have the most fun writing?

One of my faves was Dandelion Peace Camp. She was so fun to write. Her mom was Cherokee and her dad was a hippie, thus the name. Her character was so different from any other I’d written. She is a 16-year-old vampire who has the hots for girls. Her master is Myles—one of the boys who is vying for Breena’s affection. Her character literally came to me out of the blue. I had no thought of her at all until one day I was driving to meet a friend for lunch and BAM. There was Dandi. At the time I was about halfway through writing the first draft. Once I finished, I went back and weaved her character into the earlier storyline.

 

3.   What should readers expect from Witch Way to Turn?

 Lots of action! A sense of realness...like all these supernatural creatures could be living among us. A plucky heroine who often speaks her mind when she shouldn’t. And a beautifully different love triangle that will keep you as torn as Breena...and me!

 

4.   Do you see writing as a career?

 Most definitely! One day I’ll be able to say goodbye to the day job and fill my days with all my characters clamoring to be heard. I dream of waking up, brewing a pot of coffee and knowing that for the next eight hours or longer… I can write, write, write! Of course, meals and chocolate are included in that dream. Le sigh.

5.  When and why did you begin writing?

 I’m an only child. So growing up I used to tell myself stories and play with imaginary friends. When my stories would get too complex, I’d write them down. There was never one moment in particular though where I said to myself: I want to be a writer. Writing has always just been part of my life. All the choices and decisions I’ve made have been leading up to this, and I’m so happy to introduce you to some of the voices in my head. *grins*

6.  Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

I’ve heard from several already and it has been amazing! I absolutely love for readers to talk to me about my stories. Getting their take on the characters I’ve given life to is such an awesome feeling. And to know that my book helped a reader escape their life for a while is a wonderful and humbling experience. I’m just so honored to be able to share my stories with you.

7.  What were your feelings when your first novel was accepted/when you first saw the cover of the finished product?

 Floored! It was an amazing, fantastic and emotional moment in my life. Breena’s story would be heard! I wanted to shout for joy, cry and hug everyone all at the same time! LOL Then when I saw the finished cover…it was just so wonderful and real. This was actually happening!!

 

8.  Are you working on any books/projects that you would like to share with us?

 I’m currently hard at work on book #2 in the Witch Way series. And ohhh boy, does the plot thicken! *insert evil villain laugh here* Something very surprising happens…so it’s all hush-hush.

 

9.  What was one of the most surprising things you learned in writing your book?

 One of the most surprising things is how much work, time and effort goes into the editing process. I always wondered why it took so long for a book to be released. Now I know! There are lists and deadlines and many, many rounds of editing. I’ve also learned to let go of sections of my story or rewrite something if it isn’t working. Whatever it takes to make the book the best book it can be! The most important thing is that the reader enjoys the journey and falls in love with the characters.

Any last thoughts or words of wisdom you would like to share with the readers?

I can’t wait for you to meet Breena, Jenny, Myles and Orin! They are such a huge part of my life and I’m so very proud of them. I hope they find a special place in your heart, like they have in mine.

 

Happy reading!

 (Something I haven’t shared yet on the blog tour… An excerpt from Myles’s POV! Hope you enjoy!)

The piercing sound came and went quickly but the aftershock of pain coursing through Myles’s head left him crouched on the stockroom floor, hands pressed against his temples.
Breena.

Something wasn’t right. He grabbed his cell and dialed her number. No answer. He tried a couple more times as he raced out to his car but to no avail. Moments later, his tires squealed as he blazed out of the pharmacy’s parking lot.

All the time he’d spent watching her, waiting, and it had happened when he wasn’t with her. Breena’s ability had awakened.

Her presence in the supernatural community would now be known. And, of course, Victor Vale would be gunning for her.

Myles couldn’t let himself think about what horrific thing had provoked Breena’s power. The only thing he knew: he had to get to her.

Breena’s car was still in the driveway. So was Stan’s truck.

If that drunk has touched her…

God Himself would have to save Stan, because nothing else would. The others who’d tried to harm her had gotten off easy in comparison.

For once, Myles was thankful to be a vampire. Within sixty seconds, he’d scoured the entire house. No Breena. No Jenny. Only Stan, motionless on the floor in Jenny’s bedroom, his heart still beating.

 

For now.

Splinters of glass covered the hardwood, along with a streak of blood. Breena’s. He recognized the familiar richness. He clenched his hands at his side, trying to contain his fury.

It had been years since Myles had used his tracking abilities, but the smell of her blood stirred up a dark lust. When his instincts took over, his love for Breena seemed to go by the wayside, replaced by the desire to taste her. Once the moment had passed, he’d feel shame. But for now, he inhaled deeply, savoring the scent. He devoured it with his mind, imagined which way she’d turned.

And then, there she was. A silvery echo of Breena in the bedroom, like a ghost being pulled away from him on an invisible string. He followed where her essence led.

The hallway, the stairs, the front porch, her car and, finally, the woods.

Myles heard Jenny crying before he saw them lying on the ground. Their hearts both beat in the distance, though Breena had passed out. Relief hit him harder than he could’ve imagined. He couldn’t lose them too.

 

Author Bio:

Karen Y. Bynum is an author of young adult paranormal fantasy.  Her novel Witch Way to Turn is published through Lyrical Press.  She grew up in Hickory, North Carolina where mountains and magic surrounded her.  Even as a child, she wrote her own faery tales and prattled incessantly to her imaginary friends.

After graduating from UNC Charlotte with a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Media Communications, she went on to become certified in culinary arts from The Art Institute of Charlotte.  But it wasn’t until her aerospace engineer husband accepted a job in Virginia and they relocated that she knew what she wanted to be when she grew up.

With the support of family and friends, Karen embarked on a journey with the voices in her head.  They wouldn’t stop talking (yes, she does answer back) and their stories took shape.

Karen currently lives in coastal Virginia and enjoys reading, tweeting, writing and spending time with her husband and their spoiled rotten Vizsla named Rusty.

Karen's Website

Karen's Blog

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Karen on Goodreads

 

 

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Stop E-Book Piracy - Blog Hop

A Message from Kate Evangelista

Pirates of the Tropics

by Kate Evangelista

As many of you might not know, I’m from the Philippines. I was born and raised in this beautiful country of smiling people and lush, sandy beaches. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget that we’re islanders when you’re an hour or two away from the water. Piracy is a problem here too, like in many places around the world, but mostly, the piracy has to do with movies and music than books. The eReader revolution hasn’t made much of an impact here on our shores yet; although, it is gaining some ground. Most of the readers still go into bookstores and buy physical copies of the book. Even I just recently moved over to reading eBooks.

Before I get into my thoughts on book piracy, I want first to clarify how piracy here in the Philippines works. The reason why it mostly involves movies and music is because prices of DVDs and CDs are very high. Many can’t afford to pay $10 or more for a DVD. (I’m converting the prices in dollars for easier understanding). Here, a pirated DVD costs $1 or less. When faced with the dilemma of paying ten times less just to watch a movie, many consumers will pick the cheaper alternative. It’s wrong, of course, since the producers of the movie aren’t being paid a dime for the pirated versions of their work.

Now we can move on to books. EBook piracy, like I said, isn’t much of a problem here. Those who indulge in reading books would buy them from bookstores. As a writer, my main goal is to write the stories of the characters in my head. Once that goal is achieved, my next goal is getting that story read. This is where publishing comes in. The fact that I get paid for something I love doing is a much appreciated bonus. When a book is “shared,” or in this case pirated, the writers and publishers aren’t getting paid for their hard work. This is where much of the animosity comes from.

Everyone is trying to make a living in this fast-paced world. We need to provide basic necessities not only for ourselves but for our families too. So, to see your work uploaded on file sharing sites without making a dime can definitely be upsetting. But this is where my thinking shifts a little.

The fact that a book is uploaded in a file sharing site means someone wants to read it. Granted they’re reading it for free like they would from a library, but they are still reading it. Many authors I know are relieved when they search for their books on a file sharing site and don’t find them there. This is good, but this also means they’re book isn’t being shared to be read.

I know my thinking is wonky. It comes across as I’m enabling the piracy of books. It’s just, at the end of the day, I’m happy that someone is reading the crazy stories that were once in my head. That they are taking the time to pick up something that I wrote and reading it. Of course, I wish they paid for it first, but what are we writing for? Someone once told me: don’t get into to writing to get rich. This point is true if you measure riches in a monetary sense. I got into writing because I love telling stories and sharing them with anyone who would take a moment out of their day to read. That is my measure of riches.

Do I wish book piracy would stop? Yes, of course. But do I wish people to stop reading my stories? Definitely not. So, I find myself at an impasse. I wrote this post to give a different perspective to the piracy issue. Now, if someone was making money by selling ecopies of your books other than your publisher? That’s a whole different story entirely, and something I definitely would not condone.     

Integration (Bonfire Academy Book Two) by Imogen Rose Blog Tour

INTEGRATION

Bonfire Academy Book Two

By Imogen Rose

Broken. I couldn’t think of a better word to describe it. Torn. Shredded. Not that I could see anything. I wasn’t sure that I even had any eyeballs left. If I did, I couldn’t feel them. All I felt were excruciating stabs of pain searing through every inch of my body. Was the pain was coming from within or was I being repeatedly sliced open with a sharp implement? Did it matter? I could feel my head getting hazy. It was only a matter of seconds before my thoughts would end.

“Cordelia!”

My name. I heard the same voice say my name again and again. Why? Who was it? It–he–sounded familiar. My stomach heaved as the voice triggered the memory of his face… his touch. Not being able to stop the bile from travelling up my throat, I choked and then purged, emptying my stomach completely.

His voice was laced with disgust as he muttered my name again. But his revulsion couldn’t compete with my utter repugnance and disbelief at what he had done. Him. Someone I had trusted with my life, even though the rule was clear. Trust No One.

 

My Review:

Integration (Bonfire Academy #2) by Imogen Rose

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Integration is book two of the Bonfire Academy series; this is a fantastic series that should be read. I enjoyed the second book Integration as much as Initiation book one. Imogen Rose is one of my new favorite authors, her writing is excellent, story line flows well and the characters are great. I really enjoy Imogen writing and as soon as I was done reading Intergation I wanted to read the next book in this series.

In this book Cordelia is now working at Bonfire Academy as an apprentice for Professor Bern and continues to be a mentor to Faustine, of course there is someone trying to kill Faustine and Cordelia will spend every moment she can trying to figure out the mystery to make sure no harm comes to her. And to make matters worse she still hasn’t figured out what to do about Jagger and Quinn. Knowing she has to break up with Quinn is harder then she expected considering Quinn has all the sudden disappeared. Then to make matters worse Faustine loses control of her powers and ends in serious trouble.

Integration keeps you wondering who is really after Faustine, this story is full of suspense, a tad bit of romance and some unexpected things happen. I couldn’t stop reading Integration and as soon as I was done I really wanted to read book 3. I love this series and cannot wait to read more. Imogen Rose has proved to me that this is a series to be read. I have rated Integration 5 star rating and would recommend it to anyone who loves paranormal books. This series is full of mystery, suspense, some romance and great friendships. I hope if you’re reading this you will check out both books.

Interview with Imogen Rose:

1.  How would you describe Integration?

Integration is the sequel to Initiation, a story about an elite set of paranormals sent to an exclusive boarding school to hone their powers and to prepare to lead the rest of the paranormal world.

2.  Which character you had most fun writing?

I loved writing Cordelia. She has no rules, no moral restraints. It was fun exploring her persona.

3.  What was your main source of inspiration for the story?

It all started with Faustine, which was inspired by a photograph I took of my daughter. I used that same picture for the Faustine book cover. A lot of people wanted to know Faustine’s backstory after reading the book. Why were Faustine and Ryker so close, so fast? So I went back in time to explore that part of the story, but I was not interested in writing from a twelve-year-old’s point of view. So I decided to tell the story through one of the older students at the Academy.

4.  What should readers expect from Integration?

Integration is the follow-up to Initiation, the first book in the Bonfire Academy series. This book bridges the two years between Initiation and Faustine.

5.  What are your current projects?

I am currently working on the fifth book of the Portal Chronicles, Fusion. I am also having some of my books translated into German, Spanish, French, and Japanese, which is a new and exciting endeavor for me.

6.  Do you see writing as a career?

I do, and I am doing it as a career now, having given up my life as a scientist.

7.  When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

After I finished writing and publishing my first book, Portal, I wanted to keep writing the story and realized that it was something I’d love to do fulltime.

8.  As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

Oddly, I wanted to be a race-car driver. :D

9.  Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

I do. I have a great relationship with my readers and communicate with many of them on Facebook. I feel lucky to have such devoted and supportive readers, who are always encouraging me to get on and write the next book.

10.  Who designed the covers?

When I first started out, I designed my covers myself. So I did all the Portal Chronicles covers, even taking the pictures of the moon from my backyard. The Initiation cover was done by Najla Qamber who is an awesome artist, and the Integration cover was done by the wonderful Claudia at Phatpuppyart.

11.  What was the hardest part of writing your book?

The editing! It’s a long and gruesome, but necessary, process.

12.  Any last thoughts or words of wisdom you would like to share with the readers?

Thank you so much for hosting me on your blog. I hope you enjoy the books!

About the Author:

Imogen Rose is the author of the bestselling series, Portal Chronicles, which has attained cult status within indie literature and become a favorite among teens and adults alike. An immunologist by profession, Dr. Rose published her first work of fiction in 2010. She now writes full time and is currently working on her second teen series, Bonfire Chronicles. Imogen was born in Sweden and has lived in several places, counting London among her favorites. She moved to New Jersey in 2001. A self-confessed Hermès addict, Imogen freely admits to being obsessed with Kurt Cobain. She enjoys shopping, traveling, watching movies, and hanging out with her family, friends, and Chihuahua.

@ImogenRoseTweet on Twitter

https://www.facebook.com/ImogenRosePage

http://imogenroseblog.blogspot.com/

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Fallenmore by Lucy Swing - Review & Interview

Fallenmore by Lucy Swing
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When darkness consumes you; will it be hard to find the light?

After Jade's world was torn apart, she is unsure of where she belongs, if anywhere at all. Deceived by those she trusted the most, she must now accept her fate and the life that lays before her.
The voices are back but this time, they are trying to lure her into the darkness. But could they be telling her the truth? That the only person she has been able to trust since the death of her boyfriend, Avan, is lying to her too? If the voices are right... Could she really trust him?

In Fallenmore, the second book in the Feathermore Trilogy, Jade will embark in a quest through the pits of Hell. The question now is: once she is in, will they ever let her out?

My Review:

I love Lucy Swings writing does that sound to stalkerish lol.....Feathermore was fantastic so I have to say Fallenmore is out of this world fantastic. Lucy's writing has only gotten better, the story line is great, plot well written and love finding out more about Blake.

This is a book you have to get yourself comfortable because if your like me once you start you will not put it down.

Jade is struggling with losing Avan and her parents, then Blake returns and struggling through her trust in him and herself a bond is formed. But guilt, loss and love are big issues to deal with. Can Jade make the right decisions and out of harms way.

Fallenmore is worth every moment of your time, so sit down and read this series. Lucy Swing is already one of my favorite authors and cannot wait for the next book in this series. Lucy ummm do I get to beta read haha.

As for the cliffhanger, OMG Lucy how could you do this to me?

I have rated Fallenmore 5 stars and Lucy Swing 5 stars....so really you should have a 10 star rating.

Now, enjoy the interview!

1. How would you describe Fallenmore?

Fallenmore is the tale of Jade Lovecraft, a newly discovered Angel who has been through the ringer. She has lost too much already and is at the brim of falling over. When darkness and light both seek you, whose side do you take?

2. Which character you had most fun writing?

I love Jade and truly enjoyed the dark side of her!

3. What was your main source of inspiration for the story?

Staying true to my characters. They are my inspiration. Of course, a little music never hurts.

4. What should readers expect from Fallenmore?

A lot of drama, love, sacrifices and darkness. In Jade’s life there is a very thin line between good and evil, and sometimes, it is hard to know who you are fighting for.

5. What books have most influenced your life most?

The Twilight saga was the one to pull me into YA and make me want to write. Without them, I would be oblivious to this whole new world I find myself being a part of.

6. What are your current projects?

Writing the third and last installment in the Feathermore Trilogy. *wipes tear away*

7. Do you see writing as a career?

Definitely. I see it as something that I would love to do for as much time as I possibly can! I want to learn and grow as a writer and keep bringing books of the paranormal to the world.

8.  As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

 Oh, man, there were so many things. I think the first was a teacher, then a vet, a lawyer, a singer, an actress, a writer… I couldn’t make up my mind.

9.  Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

 Not as often as I would like, but when I do, I am filled with excitement. I love reading reviews of people that have thoroughly enjoyed my books and can’t wait for the next one to come out. It’s a humbling and exciting experience.

10.  Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?

 I just want to keep on doing what I am doing. I love writing and being able to create different worlds, different people, it is amazing all that we can do.

11.  What were your feelings when you first saw the cover of the finished product?

 I made the cover of my first book myself, a few times actually. For Fallenmore, I wanted something different, something my Photoshop skills couldn’t work around. So I hired a designer. I told her what I wanted and she delivered beautifully.

12.  What was one of the most surprising things you learned in writing your book?

 I learned how much I truly love and enjoy writing. What began like a little project turned into something amazing.

13.  Who designed the covers?

 Feathermore – I did it myself.

 Fallenmore – Najla Qamber.

14.  What was the hardest part of writing your book?

 Losing it and having to re-write it all over again. One thing I’ve learned? Back up your work!

Zoe Winters and Kimberly Kinrade - Great Giveaway

Win a Kindle Fire and six signed paperback books from authors Zoe Winters and Kimberly Kinrade, and get ready to enjoy some sexy hot reads while having fun in the sun.

Summer is heating up, and we're making it even hotter with a sizzling summer promotion you won't want to miss.

From August 5-18th, Winters and Kinrade are giving away two sets of each of their paranormal romance series (all signed) to two lucky winners. The Grand Prize winner will also receive a Gift Certificate for Amazon.com to cover the cost of a Kindle Fire (but we won't tell if you just want to buy $200 worth of books instead!)

Join us in celebrating the launch of the newest in Zoe Winters's Preternatural Series, Life Cycle (how much do we love love love Tamara and Cain? So freaking much!) which now includes one novella compilation and three novels. If hot & steamy paranormal romance is your thing, then you'll fall in love with all the hunks in this series, whether they be demons, vampires, werewolves or mages… they're all so deliciously bad they're good!

Life Cycle is book 4 in the Preternaturals series. However, new readers can read this installment first with no problems. Most of the books work as stand alones, and each book focuses on a different couple. The main theme of the Preternaturals is: “Everybody is the hero of their own story.” Some characters start out villains and become heroes. Some are heroes and turn into villains. Some are heroes to some characters and villains to others.

The series world has multiple dimensions, heaven, hell (which is earth), demon dimensions, and others. Magic, reincarnation, witches, vampires, demons, werecreatures of all sorts (called therians), gods, and angels all play an important role in the Pretverse.

It’s a world where blood is magic, authority is questioned, and soul mates always find each other, no matter how many incarnations it takes.

The Preternaturals contains a blend of snarky humor and angst that fans of the series have come to expect and enjoy.

As an extra bonus for this exciting launch, get signed copies of Kimberly Kinrade's award winning Forbidden Series—a YA paranormal romance/thriller.

"...a thrilling, dark and deeply romantic read that had me sitting on the edge of my seat and eagerly awaiting the next installment." - Refracted Light Young Adult Book Reviews

While light on sex (it is Young Adult after all) it's packed full of romance and a fast-paced thrilling adventure. Think X-Men meets Dollhouse if Professor X has been an evil human trafficking geneticist.

Paranormal teens with unimaginable powers. An evil organization with deep secrets. When Sam, a girl who reads minds, meets a boy who controls minds, she discovers her future isn’t what she thought.

Together they must escape and free the others… or risk losing everything–and everyone–they love.

Learn more about Zoe Winters's Preternatural Series here:

http://zoewintersbooks.com/books/

Book 1: Blood Lust


Book 2: Save My Soul


Book 3: The Catalyst


Book 4: Life Cycle

And more about Kimberly Kinrade's Forbidden Series here:

http://kimberlykinrade.com/books/forbidden-series/

She reads minds.

He controls minds.

Together, they might get out alive.

Sam thinks she's months away from freedom. After spending her life in a secret school, rented out to the rich and powerful as a paranormal spy, she is ready to head to college like any normal eighteen-year-old.

Only Sam isn't normal. She reads minds. And just before her big going-away party, she links to the mind of a young man who changes everything.

Drake wasn't raised as a 'Rent-A-Kid.' He was kidnapped and taken there by force. But his exceptional physical strength and powers of mind control make him very dangerous, especially to Sam.

When they meet, Sam is forced to face the truth of her situation, and to acknowledge that not all is as it seems in her picture-perfect world. For what awaits her on her eighteenth birthday isn't a trip to college, but an unexpected nightmare from which she may not be able to escape.
To survive, they must work together.

But will their powers be enough to save them before it's too late?

Book 1: Forbidden Mind

Book 2: Forbidden Fire

Book 3: Forbidden Life (coming Oct. 2, 2012)

About Zoe Winters

Zoe Winters writes quirky and sometimes dark paranormal romance. Her favorite colors are rainbow and clear.

To receive updates on new releases from the author, send an email to: zoewintersbooks AT gmail DOT com with "Subscribe" in the subject line. Newsletters go out only when there is an actual new release or a big contest. Your inbox will not be cluttered, newsletters won't go out more frequently than once a month, and you may unsubscribe at any time.

You can visit the author at: http://www.zoewintersbooks.com

Be sure also to visit http://www.theriantype.com for some fun supplemental material.

Twitter Page

Like her on Facebook

Amazon Author Page

Goodreads Author Profile

About Kimberly Kinrade

Kimberly Kinrade was born with ink in her veins and magic in her heart. She writes all things paranormal and fantasy, including award-winning young adult and children's books.

Visit her at http://KimberlyKInrade.com

Also visit http://IPIAcademy.com to participate in a fun fan-based site with swag and info on all things paranormal. You even get to be a secret agent!

Twitter Page

Like her on Facebook

Amazon Author Page

Goodreads Author Page

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