Review–The Werewolf’s Devotion by Mimi Sebastian

My Rating: 

If someone said that I’d like another werewolf more than Jacob from Twilight, I would’ve laughed and bet a paycheck that it could never ever happen. Luckily, no one challenged me and I still have my paycheck, but not my heart because another hero came and swept me off my feet.

Who is this mystery new guy, you might ask. Let me introduce you to Brandon Ross, a secondary character in the Necromancer’s Seduction by Noemi Ghirghi, writing as Mimi Sebastian. Because of his special place not only in the novel but also in Mimi’s heart, she decided to give him the spotlight as the main hero in The Werewolf’s Devotion.

Brandon is a man with a past he struggles to leave behind. En route to finding peace he meets Solange Neves, a doctor in a small Brazilian town. There’s something about Brandon that made me fall in love with him within pages. It has nothing to do with how handsome he is, but with his heart, his emotions he tries to keep in control, his doubts and forbidden attraction. All of the above made him human, a believable, well-rounded character with qualities and flaws one could easily relate to.

Another aspect I enjoyed is Mimi’s ability to play with words. Her descriptions are clear, elegant and gracious. Like a painter is comfortable with colors and brushes, Mimi paints the surroundings and the characters effortlessly and very vivid. That’s a true talent and I applaud Mimi for it.

The story is short and geared toward the readers of the Necromancer’s Seduction, the first book in the Necromancer Series (urban fantasy). And since this is Mimi’s first release, I applaud her intricate plot development, her unique style and voice. Give her novels a try—you won’t regret it. 

As a prize for launching Brandon’s story Mimi is offering The Werewolf’s Seduction as a giveaway via various contests, blog spots, etc. If you comment on her blog today, between now and 12:59 p.m. Arizona time, she’ll pick one commenter to receive the booklet. The winner will be announced tomorrow 10/31. 

Good luck everyone!

Review–Shadows Of The Past by Carmen Stefanescu

A while ago I invited fellow Romanian author Carmen Stefanescu to stop by with a guest post. Since then I read her book titled Shadows of the Past and decided the book is an amazing read deserving of a review on my part.

Shadows Of The Past is the story of two young women, Genevieve and Anne their life, love and of the misfortunes they meet and how they handle the evil that wants to destroy them. It is a cross-time romance, with a creepy villain and beautifully described worlds.
The two stories, Anne’s and Genevieve’s, are equally compelling because these two women who lived over 500 years apart are connected by something. The legend of the cursed forest, of witchcraft, strange rituals and a forbidden love build a suspenseful, paranormal/ romance novel that will keep you glued to the pages.
The dreams and visions the protagonist of the modern day part of the novel – Anne- experienced set the stage for the unfolding of a story, brilliantly told, moving through her as a past life apparition, Genevieve. I loved the fact that I could relate to the characters; especially Genevieve’s tragic destiny made me sad. It’s important when the author manages to make me cry and laugh at the same time with the characters she created. Although from the cover of this book it would seem that it is more adult in nature, this novel would also be appropriate for a YA audience.
Carmen Stefanescu did a great job in creating this fictional world with such distinction and giving life to so many other characters. If you are fond of a classy romance mixed with a lot of historical background and suspense, then you’ll love this. 5 star all around!

PSYCHED– Juli Caldwell’s newest release

We start this week with my dear friend and awesome critique partner Juli Caldwell presenting us her latest release, PSYCHED. I absolutely love the cover.

Here is the deal: When Juli introduced our group to her story I literally was in awe struck by her abilities to be such an incredible narrator, mystery builder, character creator and tension designer. I warned her that if I start sleeping with the lights on because of her book she’ll be in doodoo. Well, once I finished the book, I turned them off, but I now leave the hallway nightlight on and HATE to go potty middle of the night afraid some damn demon lurks out there. I hope she’s proud of herself.

If I’d have to choose one word and one word only to describe this novel I’d say: gripping. But I wouldn’t do it justice because Juli wrote a novel that was much more than that: it was fascinating, thrilling, scary, intriguing, mysterious, detailed. For those of you loving suspense, paranormal, thriller mixed with a hint of romance this novel is definitely for you. For my full review click here.

And now, without further ado, I give you PSYCHED.

 

Cover Art by Morteque http://morteque.deviantart.com/ https://www.facebook.com/MyBeautifulDarkness

You can find it on Amazon, and look for it soon in paperback!

So far, great reviews for Psyched!

“This is one of those books you just can’t put down. What I
love about Psyched in addition to a great, spooky story is strong characters
and narrative voice. Aisi is the most awesome chick, strong-willed, sassy, and
deals with some crazy stuff happening with a spunkiness that I loved… Psyched is well-written, riveting,
surprising and genre-busting. Teens will love this book, but it definitely has
a more wide-ranging appeal.”

and…

“Aisi Turay is one awesome girl. She
has power to see the dead…as in their souls…This is a great read, filled
with suspense. I NEVER knew from one chapter to the next what was happening. It
is well written and a very enjoyable…and a bit scary!“

Psyched is part ghost story, part suspense, part demon-hunting thriller, part budding romance, the story of a girl named Aisi who’s doing her best to keep it together for her wreck of a family. She is smart, sassy, and sarcastic enough to keep things interesting. When she meets Vance on the single worst day of her life, she finds a guy who just might be the first person ever to get her, to believe in her, and to out-random her with bizarre observations at the worst possible moment. There’s just something about him that she knows she can trust.

Together, Aisi and Vance wander through the memories of others to unlock the secrets of her past while battling a demon who wants to ensure she never finds what she’s looking for. Aisi vanquishes demons all the time, but Malus Indolus is too strong. And he has plans for her…and her family.

Psyched is Juli’s second novel, the first as an indie writer,
and her first experiment with her true love as a reader: paranormal
fiction. Her debut novel Beyond Perfection is also available.

You can find Juli on her webpage, Twitter, Facebook,  and blog.

A bouchet of stars for Born In Vengeance and Born In Sin

I’m on the road! For three days I’ll be hosted by Orchita @ If The Book Fits talking books. Thank you, Orchita, for being such a great host!

What has Orchita planned?

Well, for the first day we’ll read her review for BORN IN VENGEANCE (Dacian Legends, Book #1) previously published with the title I Was Here–Before You Came and see how she liked it. In a few words she finds it: “5-stars, and those of you who have followed my reviews and ratings on goodreads KNOW how rare that is of late. Read it, rate it, tell your friends to read it, because it’s one of the best non-modern novels I’ve read as of late.” For the whole review click here.

Tomorrow will spend time reading her review of BORN IN SIN (Dacian Legends, #2) coming out May 30th. She calls it, “One of the most major factors that can make or break a historical (in my opinion) is its authenticity. Like with Born in Vengeance, Cami gets it right.” Find the full review here.

And Friday I will answer to the question: “What was it about that time period that drew your attention?” Sounds fun? I hope so.

Oh, and before I forget, remember to enter the rafflecopter on her blog associated with the reviews for your chance to win e-copies of both BORN IN VENGEANCE and BORN IN SIN.

Happy reading!

Author In the House–Sherry Gammon with her newest release UNBELIEVABLE. REVIEW

Today I welcome my dear friend and critique partner Sherry Gammon with her newest release Unbelievable. I had the pleasure and honor to read the novel as she wrote it and jumped at the occasion to write a review for it. There is also a giveaway associated with her book tour. For your chance to win click here.

 

Click here for more blog tour dates

Blurb:

Deliah Lopez Dreser’s in town to take care of family business. They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, but there’s more to Lilah than meets the eye. Cole’s in danger of losing his heart when this firestorm throws sparks his way. However, is she simply playing him for the fool in order to exact revenge for her brother’s murders?  

Maggie and Seth’s reaction when the truth is revealed pushes friendship to the limit. And this time around it won’t be a Dreser causing an uproar in Port Fare. It will be Cole’s good friend Booker. But does Booker have it all wrong? Usually not!

MY REVIEW:

Following the heroes from Unlovable, who become secondary characters in Unbelievable, this book celebrates a homecoming. As Cole (who in Unbelievable was a supporting actor) takes the stage, we see him grow from a clumsy doctor (yeah, believe it or not, doctors can be clumsy) into a young man with a heart willing to forgive, fight for the truth, and love despite so many obstacles.

Enter Lilah, a would-be villain turned heroin. She uses Cole as a ticket into his circle of friends. Her thirst for revenge turns against her when she least expects it. The more she plays Cole, the harder she falls for him. Beautiful arcs for both main characters lead to a well-deserved ending. Each chapter is written from either Cole or Lilah’s point of view, giving the reader a clear image of how their feelings evolve and change for one another.

Without giving too many details out, let me just say that the twists and subplots will have you jumping out of your seat (friendly warning: don’t get a manicure while you’re reading—you’ll end up biting your nails in a few very tense places).

Kudos to Sherry Gammon for giving Cole his own story. I look forward to Booker’s story, which is next… right, Sherry?

Author Bio

Unlovable was Sherry’s debut novel and quickly rose to many top seller lists on Amazon. She is pleased to announce that Unlovable is currently being made into a movie. She has added three more novels to her body of work. Souls in Peril, the poignant story of Max Sanchez who is on a journey to help the struggling JD Miller survive high school, and Pete & Tink, a fun, light-hearted novella of a manga-loving geek and and five-and-a-half inch fairy. And UNBELIEVABLE, Book 2 in the Port Fare Series.

Sherry and her husband, along with their children and a couple of crazy dogs, call Upstate New York home. It is where she spends her nights writing instead of sleeping {:

Rapunzel Untangled Blog Tour

What a wonderful way to start the week! It is with great pleasure to have Cindy C Bennett, an incredible friend and an even more incredible author stopping by during the virtual tour for her newest release titled Rapunzel Untangled.

BLURB:

A Girl Trapped in a Mansion

A Mysterious Old Woman

The Boy Who Will Change Everything.

My Review:

From someone’s perspective who–growing up–didn’t read the original story (never heard about it until I moved to the US) I was fascinated with Cindy’s take on it. Of course, after reading Cindy’s version I had to read the original and, without a doubt Cindy’s is my favorite version. It has wit, emotions galore and likable characters in the beginning and lovable ones at the end, not to mention a hint of … darkness.

If Innocence was to be embodied by someone–that’s Rapunzel. As for Evil Rapunzel’s mother outsmarts it by a mile. I found myself rooting for poor Rapunzel, wanting somehow to reach inside the book and rescue her from her mother’s twisted ploy. I won’t lie, that woman asked many times for a punch straight in the face–that’s how well developed the story’s villan is. Thank goodness for Fane this sweet, fun (and very popular) kid whose curiosity pushes him to look beyond the facade of Facebook and want to know and meet Rapunzel. Little does he know what he was about to unravel beats anyone’s imagination.

Without a doubt this clean YA novel deserves 5 stars in my books and a place of honor on my favorite-books-of-all-times shelf.

Now to the fun part. As part of her tour Cindy provides us with a copy of her new novel. For your chance to win it all you have to do is click here.

About the Author

Cindy C Bennett was born and raised in beautiful Salt Lake City, growing up in the shadows of the majestic Rocky Mountains. She and her husband – who happens to be her high-school sweetheart – raised two sons and two daughters. She’s now blessed with two daughters-in-law as well. She developed a love of writing in high school when a teacher introduced her to the joys of escaping reality for ten minutes each day in writing.

When she’s not writing, reading, or answering emails (notice there’s no mention of cleaning, cooking, or anything remotely domestic), she can often be found riding her Harley through the beautiful canyons near her home. (Yes, she rides a Harley.)

Links for Rapunzel Untangled Blog Tour

Cindy’s Blog http://cindybennett.blogspot.com/

Rapunzel Untangled Blog http://rapunzeluntangled.blogspot.com/

Cindy’s FB https://www.facebook.com/#!/cindycbennettauthor

Cindy’s Twitter https://twitter.com/cinbennett

Cindy’s Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4116333.Cindy_C_Bennett

GoodReads Giveaway

Great giveaway over @ GoodReads  for my novel titled Hidden Heart. There are 5 copies available and over 700 people requesting it. For more details click HERE.

Growing up in the land of Dracula

As my biography states I was born and raised in Romania, or Dracula’s birthplace. Since many of you love vampires I thought my blog should be about vampires and how I grew up with them. Literally.

I’m not going to tell you the story how I found out from my cousin what vampires are (“They come at night and suck your blood,” he’d say), where they live (“I see them all the time. Didn’t you see them near grandpa’s house, in the cemetery?” he’d add), or how can you fight them (“Just carry this garlic clove in your pocket, and this stick—you should be fine. If you see a vampire, try to aim at his head with the clove and if that doesn’t work make a cross on the roof of your mouth with the tip of your tongue and duel him with this stick. Now, you’re ready to go to the outhouse.”). Oh, wait… I said I’m not going to tell you the story.

Needless to say every summer since (I was probably about 6years old) I dreaded, I hated visiting my grandpa, afraid at any time one of the vampires living in the cemetery will know (among their superpowers they can read minds, in case you wondered) I’m there and come to suck my blood. As soon as the night descended on the lone village I’d run inside the house, refusing to go potty since the outhouse was quite a distance away from the house. Can’t tell you how many nights I spent under the covers, holding my breath at every sound—a tree limb hitting the window, a cat scratching the door—making the cross on the roof of my mouth until my tongue hurt. Leaving grandpa’s house and the vampires was the highlight of my summer vacations.

Eventually my grandpa died, the house was sold and I never went to that village ever again. And eventually I grew up and realized my cousin was one mean lair I had the pleasure to hurt one day, kicking his shin for all the mental abuse he had caused me. And his afterward limping?—oh, so worth it!

Going back to Dracula. Never knew what prompted Bram Stoker to chose Transylvania as home for Count Dracula. But he sure directed a lot of attention toward Romania, which among other things is known for Nadia Comaneci (the first gymnast to ever receive a 10 at Olympics), Nicolae Ceausescu (the tyrant president killed during the 1989 Revolution) or its happy cemeteries. Trust me, we do have happy cemeteries.

Naturally, tourists from all over the world visit yearlong Dracula’s Castles (Poenari Castle and Bran Castle).

Poenari Castle

                                                                                                 Bran Castle

I took the liberty to add here a few photos, hope you enjoy them. But I also need to make a clarification. Dracula—our Dracula that lived for real in both castles and Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula don’t have much in common, in fact they are two distinctive creatures—one human, the other pure fiction.

I’m not going to bore you with Count Dracula’s story—we all know it from novels to movies, to historic accounts, etc. But I bet not many of you know the real Dracula.

We (Romanians) refer to Dracula as Vlad Tepes, or Vlad the Impaler, Romanian Prince of Wallachia who lived around 1450s. As monarch Vlad had cleaned the country of all criminals—from simple liars to killers, even some political enemies by impaling them (ouch, it hurts only thinking of such a horrific way to die). Because of this “special treatment” Vlad was often associated with the Devil, which in Romanian is translated Dracul. He was feared not only by his own people, but by all countries around us, especially by Turks with which he had numerous clashes, trying to keep them on the other side of the Danube and so to protect our land. Eventually he was betrayed by his own allies and decapitated by Turks.

I wish I could tell you I’ve seen a vampire. Maybe if once, only once I would peak above the covers while in grandpa’s house I would’ve seen the vampires my stupid cousin had the “privilege” to see. Maybe if I’d stop crossing the roof of my mouth or not carrying the garlic clove in my pocket I would’ve seen them then. I’ll never know, but I bet the closest I’ll ever be to one—Twilight movie.