Soulless (Heartless #2) by Kelly Martin Review

Hey readers! Late Night-Ethan here again with another awesome book review for you folks. Back in January, I had the great honor of reviewing book one in this incredible series. It touched me in ways I hadn't been touched in a long time. It really changed my outlook on life and was a genuine pleasure to read. Could book two live up to those huge expectations? This time on the chopping block? Soulless by Kelly Martin. Before we get to my thoughts, here's a bit about the novel and our author:

Sometimes all the wishing in the world doesn't change the fact that in order to save everyone, you have to destroy yourself.
Sometimes good doesn't always win.
Sometimes choices suck.
Sometimes people don't break their promises
Sometimes the thing we hate the most is the one thing that can save us.
Sometimes...
Sometimes love ruins everything.

     

Kelly Martin

Kelly Martin is the bestselling author of contemporary, historical, and YA romance. She has been married for over ten years and has three rowdy, angelic daughters. When Kelly isn't writing, she loves watching horror gamers on YouTube, even though she is a huge wimp, and drinking white chocolate mochas.

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Website

*****

My Thoughts:

"I sound tired. I am tired. It's like I want it to be over, but I know it won't be. My life, as I knew it before, is gone. I thought I has it bad then? I had no idea. If I could go back, even to last week, I'd be happy. I'm not sure how to even go on from here..."

As I mentioned in my feels-filled review for Heartless, it isn't often that I read a novel that completely changes the way I view the industry. A novel the that fills my being and takes over in a way that I become so immersed into the story that I truly leave reality behind in the midst of its' pages. Kelly Martin absolutely astounded me. I had no idea if she could bring me back into the full swing of emotion again. I should've known better.

Soulless is a literary gem. Never before has a sequel caught my attention in such a way as this one. It's almost as though there are no breaks within the story and rather than a new installment, we're merely receiving a continuation of the first novel. That being said, I'm absolutely going to have to say that this novel is a NO READ unless you read book one. I don't usually say that, but I am beyond passionate that no reader will understand the depth of this series without following Gracen's trials from the beginning.

Let's get started.

Soulless picks up near immediately after the closing of Heartless. For obvious reasons, I can't elaborate too much on the plot of this one, but I can tell you that Martin shines. It takes an author of true talent to continue such a heartwrenching stories with such grace and ferocity as Martin did with Soulless. The plot is fast-paced which makes for a quick read. Much like Heartless, this series is about so much more than what we read on the surface. It's not a flashy, action-filled series, but one that will take you on a psychological road trip from which you won't return the same person as when you started. Much like it's predecessor, there are moment of absolute horror in Soulless so again this one is not recommended for the faint of heart.

There were so many moments when reading Soulless that I had to take a moment to compose myself and my thoughts, It's an extremely hard-hitting novel for so many reasons, but such a worthwhile literary adventure. I have highlighted over twenty extremely hard-hitting passages from this read that have hit me in the feels on so many occasions.

Soulless did an incredible job in continuing with Martin's character development and arcs. As the second novel in the trilogy, she didn't have to introduce many new characters which really gave her time to focus on our main duo or Gracen and Hart. I have to say I've never quite seen character development in such as way as I've seen in this series. Redemption is a huge theme in this series and Martin writes it with an elegance we don't see often enough in contemporary literature. Again, for reasons of spoilers I cannot elaborate too much, but I can assure you that I was not disappointed in any capacity.

In terms of setting, Martin again, hit the nail right on the head. In true New Adult fashion, we're situated at college, complete with the allure, excitement, stress, and ambiance of campus life and living. The first apartment, the libraries, Martin really did an incredible job with keeping her story tied to the new adult setting that one comes to look for in a novel of this genre. 

I'd like to recycle these thoughts from my review of Heartless as they absolutely pertain to my thoughts on the second installment as well:

I'm going to make this a little personal for a moment. I often try to detach myself from the emotions of a novel. Only because I feel that if you relate too closely with the source material when reviewing, it's tends to cause some bias results. I'll be honest, I couldn't help but relate with everything Martin wrote in this incredible story. It's dark, far darker than I ever anticipated from an author with such a bubbly-upbeat personality. It's reflective on so many aspects of my life and I loved every second. It was such a cathartic read for me that I desperately needed. Words are so useful in dispelling the darkness and Martin and this series do an incredible job. I can't say many stories have touched me the way [Soulless] has.
As a member of this book community, I read a whole lot. It's not often I come across a series as special and with as much potential as I have found in Martin's Heartless series. I cannot sing its' praises higher if I tried. It's such a testament to the talent and writing style of Martin to have crafted a such a beautiful work of literary art. I have nothing but praise for Soulless and absolutely cannot imagine what I will discover when the final novel of the series is released this fall.

It should come as absolutely no surprise to anyone that I am granting Soulless by Kelly Martin a near-perfect 5-star review. As I said with Heartless, Soulless is "a truly unique read, Martin ignites a flame with her elegant words, captivating settings, and enough psychological insight to keep even the most hesitant of readers satisfied." Don't miss your chance to add this one to your TBR today. You absolutely will not regret this addition to your shelves!

*****

Check out my 5-star review of book one in the series, Heartless, by clicking the cover below.

Alright readers, that's all I have for you on the topic of Soulless by Kelly Martin. As you guys can clearly see, this book spoke to me in ways I haven't been spoken to in a very long time. I couldn't recommend this series any more highly if I tried. Do yourself a huge favor and grab your copy today! Huge shout out to Kelly for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review. Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Heartless (Heartless Series #1) by Kelly Martin Review

Hey readers, Ethan here again this afternoon with yet another review for you guys. I'm not often one to throw words like this around, but I have to say this is by far one of the best reads I have read in a very, very long time. I am so excited to share these thoughts with you all. What am I raving about today? Heartless, the first novel in an incredible new series from author Kelly Martin. Before we get to my thoughts, here's a bit about the novel and our author:

Some things can't be saved.

What would you do if your guardian angel wasn't sent to protect you from the world but to protect the world from you?

For thirteen years, Gracen Sullivan dreamed about a red-eyed demon named Hart Blackwell who tortured her every night. Her mother freaked when she found out about her daughter's "hallucinations" and forced Gracen to go to the doctor, who prescribed some very powerful medication which kept Hart out of her head for five years.

A week ago, Hart came back and brought a friend.

But something has changed, and Gracen is seeing Hart when she's awake too. And the other "friends" in her dreams? They have been found dead.

The police want to talk to her.
Her boyfriend has become distant.
Her dreams are becoming more and more intense.
Hell wants her.
Heaven has to stop her.
When push comes shoving, can Gracen fight the evil eating away inside her or will she be forced to embrace it and destroy the world?

     

Kelly Martin

Kelly Martin is the bestselling author of contemporary, historical, and YA romance. She has been married for over ten years and has three rowdy, angelic daughters. When Kelly isn't writing, she loves watching horror gamers on YouTube, even though she is a huge wimp, and drinking white chocolate mochas.

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Website

*****

My Thoughts:

"People certainly do some terrible things in the name of righteousness. When there's only one righteous person."

I'm going to start this out with a confession. I had this book on my TBR but had absolutely no idea what it was about. Didn't know the genre, didn't know the synopsis, and hadn't ever read anything previously by Martin. When I received the review request in my inbox, I was in the trenches of a novel that really wasn't speaking to me and this sounded like a breath of fresh air. Little did I know that this newfound surprise in my inbox was going to turn out to be one of the most hard-hitting and inspirational stories I've devoured in months. Wow.

When it comes to the plot, I'll be honest, I had no idea where Martin was going for the longest of times. With some incredible plot twists and some truly creative mind-benders, Martin had me guessing up until the very end. A psychological thriller if I've ever seen one. There were a few twists that I have to admit I did see coming, but for the most part, my jaw dropped with each revelation. It was astounding. Heartless is extremely fast-paced and definitely not for the weak of heart. While definitely not a gruesome horror tale, the psychological aspects of the novel were absolutely horrific at times. I definitely had to put the story down more than once to gather my thoughts. That being said, I will say that this novel is definitely best suited for New Adult and older audiences. I'm not sure I'd recommend this read to anyone who wasn't old enough to understand the themes Martin explores in Heartless. 

Never having read a Martin novel previously, I didn't know what to expect in terms of character development. Thankfully I was not disappointed. Now here is where I'll say my one and only negative thing about Heartless: I really would have appreciated some more adult content. For such an incredibly deep novel, the language was definitely family friendly and barely pushing PG. It did take me out of the story on more than one occasion where some much stronger expletives were most definitely in order. I was okay with the adult situations and themes, but I would have appreciated a bit more language that was more true to the new adult lifestyle. In terms of character development, I believe Martin excelled greatly. Especially with our main character, Gracen. Seeing as some of the biggest reveals in the novel take place within Gracen's psyche, a strong character was absolutely necessary. Not only did Martin have to know her character from the outside, she had to explore every facet, every crevice of Gracen's inner mind to really craft the beautiful character she did. It's a true testament to the talent of an author to write characters such as this. The remaining characters were all written great as well, but to avoid potential spoilers I'll stray away from commenting at this time.  

One thing I really didn't expect out of this novel was the deep religious roots it shared at times. I've red several novels as of late with religious undertones, but this one is probably the one who has done it the best. Martin has delivered an incredible tale full of spirit without drowning her readers in scripture or history. She took her own unique twist on the scriptural tale and crafted a story that readers of all faiths and walks of life can enjoy.

Oh boy. This is probably where I have the most to say but I'll try to condense it here. Martin really touches home with some incredibly hard hitting themes in Heartless. There are so many, and I'll tell you I highlighted over twenty passages in this one novel that I'll carry with me for many books to come. It's an extremely deep read that really resonated with me for some many reasons. If you can read this novel without catching all the feels, you've done something wrong. With reflections on topics such as: faith, family, love, forgiveness, acceptance, fate, destiny, and so many more, Martin opened the floodgates of emotion and really let them roar. It was a beautiful adventure in reading. 

In terms of setting, Martin again, hit the nail right on the head. In true New Adult fashion, we're situated at college, complete with the allure, excitement, stress, and ambiance of campus life and living. The first apartment, the libraries, Martin really did an incredible job with keeping her story tied to the new adult setting that one comes to look for in a novel of this genre. 

I'm going to make this a little personal for a moment. I often try to detach myself from the emotions of a novel. Only because I feel that if you relate too closely with the source material when reviewing, it's tends to cause some bias results. I'll be honest, I couldn't help but relate with everything Martin wrote in this incredible story. It's dark, far darker than I ever anticipated from an author with such a bubbly-upbeat personality. It's reflective on so many aspects of my life and I loved every second. It was such a cathartic read for me that I desperately needed. Words are so useful in dispelling the darkness and Martin and this series do an incredible job. I can't say many stories have touched me the way Heartless has. 

As you guys can clearly see, I have a whole lot of thoughts on this novel. Honestly it is one-of-a-kind and truly a unique novel that will leave your mind blown and begging for more. As previously stated, this is my first read from Martin and I can say with surety that I'll be devouring her entire backlog soon. I can not get enough of this! It should come as absolutely no surprise that I am granting Heartlessby Kelly Martin a near-perfect 5-star review. I seriously couldn't rave any more if I tried. I can absolutely tell you that I'll be closely following this series until the very end.  A truly unique read, Martin ignites a flame with her elegant words, captivating settings, and enough psychological insight to keep even the most hesitant of readers satisfied. Don't miss your chance to add this one to your TBR today. 

*****

Alright readers, that's all I have for you on the topic of Heartless by Kelly Martin. As you guys can clearly see, this book spoke to me in ways I haven't been spoken to in a very long time. I couldn't recommend this book any more highly if I tried. Do yourself a huge favor and grab your copy today! Huge shout out to Kelly for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review. Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Concealed in the Shadows Series by Gabrielle Arrowsmith Cover Reveal

Clean Teen Publishing presents a new look for this exciting series! The Concealed in the Shadows series by Gabrielle Arrowsmith has gripped readers from the start. With the upcoming release of the final book, we have decided to release all new covers for each of the books. Fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent will love this series. Start reading it for free today!

CONCEALED IN THE SHADOWS (FREE)

AMAZON / NOOK / iBOOKS

Read the first book in the best-selling young adult dystopian series today for free. Sydney Harter has long awaited September 12th, 2033—her eighteenth birthday. She can finally apply for guardianship of her sister, who is her only family and entire world. She hopes they will be lawfully reunited, but is prepared to defy authority and risk everything to escape the captivity of Miles County so that they can be together. Escaping will be difficult and dangerous. Citizens are bound to their county by sophisticated chip implants that deliver shocks to those who dare to cross the electric barrier. Sydney is very clever, but her trickery is limited against the all-seeing eyes of technology. Even if they were to survive the escape, disappearing into the forgotten forests and towns of the past seems an impossible task. What Sydney doesn't know is that she is the particular interest of two opposing forces. With deceit, fear, and warfare surrounding her—can she trust the party that aims to help with her fight against the other? Can she open her heart to receive and return unexpected love? When her sister’s life becomes jeopardized, Sydney will have to weigh a new love against the only enduring love she has known. The cost could be deadly… How will she choose?

RELEASED FROM THE DARKNESS

Book #2 is available now!

AMAZON / BARNES AND NOBLE / iBOOKS

REDUCED TO DUST

Pre-order today! Releases on December 14, 2015.

AMAZON / BARNES AND NOBLE / iBOOKS

ABOUT GABRIELLE ARROWSMITH:

FACEBOOK / WEBSITE

Gabrielle Arrowsmith was born to her loving parents on August 16th, 1988. She grew up in the small town of Ham Lake, MN enjoying soccer, school, and adventuresome play with her brother and cousins. As she grew older, her desire to write led her to fill many diaries and notebooks with her thoughts, poems, stories, and scripts. Her other childhood hobbies included reading, playing soccer, acting, and playing piano. Gabrielle recalls high school as the time when she first believed in the worth of her writing. Her AP Language and Literature course both challenged and celebrated her craft. She aimed for perfection in this course, but only so much as to allow time for her other college-level courses, soccer, track, NHS, and school plays. She graduated in 2006, earning Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction recognition and the Triple A Award for outstanding performance in academics, athletics, and arts. In 2009, Gabrielle graduated summa cum laude from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN where she earned a degree in Elementary Education. She played collegiate soccer for the Saints, held work-study positions, acted in theater productions, and volunteered often. Gabrielle is currently teaching and pursuing her passion for storytelling through writing and acting. She enjoys reading, playing and coaching soccer, and spending time with family, friends, and her adorable pets!

Killing Boys (Bubblegum #1) by KB Nelson Cover Reveal

COVER REVEAL

KILLING BOYS

COMING NOVEMBER 10, 2015

BLURB

A quaint New England town is thrown into chaos when a serial killer begins targeting the male virgin population of a prestigious private academy. Young, dumb, and horny, the terrified young men begin to scramble to cash in their V-cards before it’s too late. Soon, a copycat killer emerges, but with an entirely different motive; to target all the girls who’ve already rounded home plate. The popular girls are forced into hiding while their peers swear off boys—at least until the killers are brought to justice. Mass hysteria ensues as a desperate fight for survival begins. The student population is on their own as an inept faculty launches a campaign to save the school’s reputation. When everyone’s a suspect, trust is a commodity best left for the most intimate of friends. Killing Boys is a thrilling and sexy throwback to the slasher films of the 90’s, with a comedic stab of dark humor. Recommended for mature readers (16+) due to sexual content, graphic violence, graphic language, offensive dialogue, drug use, and shitty behavior by bratty teenagers in general.

 *** If you want to receive an alert when this book, as well as others are released, sign up for the newsletter here ***

EXCERPT

“All I’m saying is that if you catch me with one of the students." Monica nods her head, and a dreamy smile swims across her lips. "I don’t know, lets say Crash Cooper in the Janitor’s closet after third block, but before fourth, I don’t want to be put in a position where I’m prone to lose my job.” “If you sleep with the students, you’re fired," Campbell snaps. “Not only will you be fired, but the next person you sleep with is going to be Miss. Manson, your future cellmate, and she’ll have an active outbreak of herpes.” Monica recoils in her chair, swallowing a visible lump in her throat. “Which kind?” “HSV-2.” “You have one of them, you have them all." She shrugs and slaps her hand against the long wooden conference table. "Am I right?” “Don’t sleep with the students.”

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BIO

I, K.B. Nelson, grew up on a farm in Ohio where the cows were soon replaced with an entourage of cats. When I'm not writing, you can find me doing one of two things -- getting lost on highways or getting lost in the lives of fictional characters.

website / facebook / twitter / goodreads / newsletter

     

Fatal Beauty by Nazarea Andrews Release Day Launch

 

Today we are celebrating the release of FATAL BEAUTY by Nazarea Andrews. This book is an adult thriller. Be sure to check out the giveaway below for an amazing prize pack and chance to get a bonus scene from the book.

Click here to ADD THE BOOK TO GOODREADS 

Charlotte was a good girl. Sweet and innocent, a debutante with her Daddy’s credit card and a fiancée who doted on her. She was destined for a perfect picture life in Charleston. Until everything goes wrong. 

EJ grew up with everything she could ever want, and bored as hell. Nothing surprises her and nothing ever changes, and she wants out—whatever it takes. Getting involved with Anthony Jacobs is probably the worst idea she’s ever had—and that makes it irresistible. Until Charlie needs her. 

New Orleans. Memphis. Vegas.

Beautiful girls who know just how to get exactly what they want. It’s all fun and games, sexy nights and wild parties. But you can only manipulate your way out of so much, and the body count is rising. When their past catches up, not even a pretty smile will get them
out of trouble this time.

 

RELEASE DAY GIVEAWAY: Purchase Fatal Beauty before the price goes up Thursday, and fill out this form to receive a exclusive bonus scene.

CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE FORM.

PURCHASE FATAL BEAUTY FROM AMAZON

       
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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Nazarea Andrews (N to almost everyone) is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. Which means she writes everything from zombies and dystopia to contemporary love stories. When not writing, she can most often be found driving her kids to practice and burning dinner while she reads, or binging watching TV shows on Netflix. N loves chocolate, wine, and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, spoiled cat and overgrown dog. She is the author of World Without End series, Neverland Found, Edge of the Falls, and The University of Branton Series. Stop by her twitter (@NazareaAndrews) and tell her what fantastic book she should read next.

AUTHOR LINKS:

WEBSITE | BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | STREET TEAM

 

The Magnolia Affair by TA Foster Release Day Launch

It’s release day for The Magnolia Affair by T. A. Foster and I couldn't be more honored to help share the love! I was a huge fan of Foster's Ivy Grace Spell series so I am pumped to see how she tackles this, very different, genre. Knowing her, I'm sure it's incredible! The cover for this book is one of my favorites so far this year so I cannot wait to see what's inside! Help us celebrate the big day by learning more about the novel, the author, reading an excerpt and then winning an awesome prize!

   

Audrey Kingston has the perfect life she always wanted. An adoring husband, a beautiful house, book club nights with friends. It was idyllic. It was serene. Until Paxton Tanner, candidate for state senator, moved in next door. Seduced by his undeniable charm, Audrey’s life becomes unrecognizable as she gives in to her impulses. The affair becomes deadly, and she gets tossed into a political scandal that leads all the way to the governor’s office. When love becomes lethal, there’s only one way out.  

  Kobo | Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Smashwords | BN

   

T.A. Foster

 

T.A. Foster is a Southern girl whose heart and spirit are connected to the beach. She grew up catching rays and chasing waves along the North Carolina Outer Banks and now resides in the state with her adventurous pilot husband, two children and two canine kiddos. T.A. has an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University. When she’s not chasing her two-legged and four-legged children or trying to escape for date night, you can find her reading, writing or planning her next beach trip.  

Find T.A. Foster

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Goodreads*

Exclusive Excerpt: 

“Is it important to you that I like you?” I didn’t mean to be blunt. “Yes.” His arm brushed mine again, but this time I wasn’t sure it was an accident. “I’m just one little vote. You probably have the rest of the neighborhood in the bag. The book club was impressed with you.” I thought he might be digesting my statement. “Every vote counts. Every person matters. You matter.” We turned at the corner. I could see my driveway ahead. “You sound like an idealist.” The center of my chest warmed when I heard the sound of his laugh. I wasn’t supposed to feel that when I heard another man laugh. I wasn’t supposed to react at all. “I’ve been accused of worse. How about an idealist who wants his ideals to become reality?” He ventured a compromise. I wondered if he and Sarah had conversations like these. Did he try to change her stance on issues? Did he woo her to his side of the fence with charismatic comebacks? “Audrey?” “Yeah. Sounds good.” “I think I lost you for a second.” “Sorry, I was just thinking.” “I aimed too high with gun control, didn’t I? It’s an intense issue.” His expression changed. “It’s not that.” I couldn’t explain what was happening. I should be able to have a mature conversation with my neighbor. We should be able to stroll on the sidewalk. I should be able to be next to him without thinking about his lips. Lips that smiled like a movie star. Something was changing and I couldn’t stop it. There was enough light filtering through the crepe myrtles that I could see the muscles tensing in his neck. Had I said something wrong? The flowerbed that marked the entrance to Paxton’s driveway was a few paces from where we stood. I quickened my step. “I like talking to you. It’s nice to be able to talk without worrying about the consequences.” My eyes flashed to his. But there were consequences. Things were happening inside me. My skin was flushed, my nerves vibrating, my pulse thumping hard against the inside of my head. He couldn’t see any of it, but I wasn’t certain he didn’t feel it. I took a step, forgetting about the lumpy spot in front of his driveway, and almost landed on my face. Paxton gripped my arm, pulling me upward, saving me from landing facedown. “Whoa there. You ok?” “God, I’m sorry.” I shook off his hold. “I’m fine. I wasn’t watching where I was going. Stupid roots everywhere.” I noticed the way my arm ached from his grip. It was warm and pulsing. “Good night. Thanks for walking me home.” I wanted to run, speed past him. Run straight out of my skin. “But, it’s dark. Let me at least drop you off at your door,” he suggested. “I wouldn’t want you to get hurt.” I hesitated. There was a part of me hoping he would offer. “All right. We can cut through your yard. There’s a short cut.” “Show me.” I followed Paxton along the driveway, noticing the lights in my house were off. This was late even for Spencer. Maybe he had gone to bed. We passed the front porch, and I pointed to the path I used earlier that day. I could feel him behind me, taking each step I took. I grabbed one of the stiff magnolia branches and forced it to the side when I felt his hand land on top of mine. I stopped, frozen with dread, consumed with something I hadn’t felt in years. I held onto the branch, and Paxton held onto my hand, the warmth of his palm starting to heat my skin. His breath was heavy on my neck. It felt like waves pounding against me, each one eroding the barrier between us. I was afraid to turn around, afraid that if I looked at him I would unravel. As long as I stared at the branch, I was still in control. I couldn’t speak. With his free hand, he pushed the hair off my neck and blew across the collar of my shirt. My knees wobbled and I gripped tighter on the branch, forcing it to keep me upright. It was involuntary, but my head reeled back. He stepped closer. I didn’t know who I was. Hiding in the shadows while a man I barely knew touched me, like a woman who was available. A woman who was free to make choices about who touched her. I wasn’t that woman. My life was tied to Spence. Those choices weren’t mine to make, but I was making one. His was breathing freedom across my skin I didn’t know I craved. His hand canvassed my neck, taking my throat in his palm. He ran a finger down the center, pressing lightly as he crossed my collarbone. I didn’t think I could stand there much longer as his fingertips explored my skin. The cicadas echoing around our yards drowned out the sound of my heavy breath. I needed to stop this. But I craved it more. I couldn’t open my eyes when he turned me toward him. If I kept them closed, it was as if I were dreaming. This was all a wine-induced dream. I could tell myself it wasn’t happening. Standing under the branches with a man only hours ago I didn’t know, but was unquestionably drawn to. Pulled in by his voice, the look in his eye, the energy around him. How he managed to be rugged, yet refined. But I knew when his mouth took mine that it was real. I could taste the wine on his tongue and the roughness of his palms as he held my face. I savored the newness of him—our lips moving wildly. I clutched at his back. The kiss grew hungrier, our moans turning to whimpers as we snatched at the clothes between us. His teeth grazed across my throat, nipping at the soft spots tenderly then cutting in just enough to tease me. I tensed when I felt his hand slide along my stomach and push my bra out of the way. It was too much. I tried to break away and Paxton hung his head. “God, I’m sorry,” he whispered. I shook my head, feeling sick. “We can’t do this. I-I didn’t want you to kiss me. You weren’t supposed to kiss me.” My fists balled at my side. “I know. I know. It was out of line. I got carried away.” He ran his fingers through his perfect haircut. “I’m sorry. That was idiotic.”

Enter T.A. Foster’s giveaway!!

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Alright readers, that's all I have for you on the topic of The Magnolia Affair by TA Foster. I will be reviewing this one for you guys very soon so stay on the lookout! Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Black Collar Queen by AN Latro Release Day Launch

We’re having a release day launch for AN Latro’s Black Collar Queen, the second book in her mafia romance, Black Collar Syndicate. She’s sharing an excerpt with us, as well as a fantastic giveaway!! And for a limited time, grab the entire series at a sales price!!

 

Exclusive Excerpt: Every eye in the room is on him, standing in the spotlight as he always has, yet representing so much more. The tension is palpable, the anticipation and, yes, the fear. He smiles, looks down at the wood for just a moment, then back into the faces of his empire. His. Empire. He finds her in the crowd and she smiles for him, a tiny affirmation. “We have endured a very savage time.” His voice amplifies over the crowd, and it is gentle—so very gentle. “We have endured a lot of uncertainty. But we have endured. I understand if you are uneasy, and that's why I've called for this meeting. I want you all to know where I stand. To this day, there are things that I don't know, details I may never understand about the way life was here while I was gone. That's why, from this moment, all of you who are under this roof have a clean rap. If you were my enemy, I grant you pardon.” He pauses for a moment as the shock and outrage slingshot around the room. His expression never changes as he lets his words sink into sense. In her corner, Emma isn’t watching him. Her gaze is tracking the family, watching expressions. No one notices her—no one ever has, and even now, she is hiding behind her demure façade, and helping him by watching the family he is so adamant about trusting.

 

Claiming the Morgan Syndicate was supposed to be the hardest part—but now they have to keep it. Seth Morgan has taken his place as the head of the Morgan syndicate, with his cousin Emma by his side. But the change of regime came at a heavy price: Emma’s mother is missing, and the Oliver syndicate wants Emma’s head on a platter. And there are secrets—skeletons from their parents coming to haunt them. Seth is moving pieces, struggling to keep Emma safe and peace in the city while Emma alienates her lover and grapples with her past. With threats on every side, and unable to trust their allies, Emma makes a misstep that could cost more than the syndicate is willing to pay: the life of it’s young queen.

Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

 

Series Buy Links:
  Black Collar Empire Amazon | BN
  Black Collar Beginning: New York Amazon | BN
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About AN Latro:

I loathe writing bios. So let’s play a game. One of these three are true… AN Latro lives in Ireland with her dog and cat and an over abundance of books. She loves solitude and boy bands, and hearing from readers. AN Latro lives in Florida, where the ocean is her favorite muse. She enjoys wine and tequila, and old movies about the mafia. She loves hearing from readers on Facebook and Twitter. AN Latro is the pen name of two friends. They love hearing from readers, and are usually getting into trouble with new ideas for the syndicate.

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Mortom by Erik Therme Review

Hey guys! Happy Sunday and welcome to another fun filled review by me! You guys all know it's been an absolutely crazy past couple of months for me, it has taken me quite a while to get to this read. The author sent it to me right before all the craziness hit and I just now was able to get to it. I've been in a bit of a reading slump the past week or so and I'm here to tell you, Mortom pulled me right out of it! It was well worth the wait! Before we get to my thoughts, here's a bit about Mortom and our author, Erik Therme:

Mortom: population 986.

On the outskirts of town, 33-year-old Craig Moore is found drowned in the lake. A loner and town eccentric, few attend the funeral.

One week later Andy Crowl arrives in Mortom, still stunned by his cousin’s death and equally confused why everything was left to him. The two hadn’t spoken in years and shared little outside of fierce childhood competition.

But Craig hardly did him a favor. The estate amounts to little more than a drained bank account and a dilapidated property overridden with junk. When Andy finds a dead rat under the refrigerator with a key in its mouth, he thinks it’s some sort of sick joke. Then he finds the letter left by Craig, written two days before his death … detailing the rules of “the game.”

Erik Therme

Erik Therme has thrashed in garage bands, (inadvertently) harbored runaways, and met Darth Vader. None of these have come close to the thrill of releasing his debut novel, Mortom.

When he's not at his computer, he can be found cheering on his oldest daughter's volleyball team, or chilling on the PS3 with his 11-year-old. He currently resides in Iowa City, Iowa--one of only 7 places in the world the UNESCO has certified as a "City of Literature."

Find Erik Therme

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS 

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My Thoughts

A few months ago, Erik Therme approached me about reviewing his debut novel. After reading the synopsis I was a little leery. I wasn't sure what genre this fell into. Was it horror? Was is mystery/suspense? Either way I took the dive in. After finishing, I still have no idea what genre to place this read in, but that's okay, because I was hooked! As you folks know I work with a lot of debut authors, and not all of them produce fantastic works on their first journey into the literary world. Not all of them are Erik Therme though!

Before I start raving, I would like to get a few of the negative aspects I found out of the way. When if comes to reviewing a novel, I very seldom read other reviews before I post mine. I don't want anyone else's thoughts to change the way I felt about a novel. In this instance I wanted to read a few reviews before I posted my thoughts just to see if I was wrong on a couple of things. After checking out some others, my few negatives seem to be across the board.

When it came to the characters in Mortom, I was both impressed and disappointed. There is little to no character development throughout the novel. Andy, our MC, starts out as a paranoid, negative, rude guy and actually ends the novel the same way... except maybe a little more paranoid, but with good reason. Kate is insecure, unnecessarily rude, and emotional beyond belief (though the reason why may have been answered in the end). While I liked their characters as people, I just didn't understand or relate to them in any capacity.

I know that this novel is a work of fiction so this may be particular critique may just need to be thrown out the window, but there were a lot of things that just didn't add up in Mortom. I won't go into much because of spoilers, but just some of the 'whats' and 'whys' did not fit the story. For instance, why wouldn't an aunt and uncle go to their nephews funeral? Better question, why didn't Kate? Mary was an interesting character who very clearly had a lot going on, but until the end she didn't see all that upset for a woman who just lost her only son. Per the game? I just don't know that all of those clues are feasible. And even if they were to have been, I think we really need to discuss how messed up in the head Craig must have been. Seriously. Who does some of those things? And for what? In the end was it worth it? No.

My last, but probably biggest negative aspect of the novel was the lack of technology. Now I totally understand that maybe Therme was wanting to go for a timeless quality here that could have taken place at any time, except he made one mistake: listing Craig's age and birth year. With the dates we are given we see this this story takes place within the last decade. A decade full of internet, cell phones, DVDs, digital cameras, etc. Why is it that neither Andy nor Kate have a cell phone? And doesn't anyone in the city of Mortom have access to Google? I feel like a good chunk of Andy's plight could have been made a  bit easier with a simple internet connection. Maybe Mortom was like my hometown and there was no internet available? Who knows, I just know that the entire town seemed to be living like it was still 1945. It was a little discouraging at times. 

Okay we're out of the negatives now. Let me rave on some positives, because at this point you are probably thinking I hated the novel. Well, I will very happily tell you that I did not hate this novel in any capacity. In fact, I had a horrible time with trying to put it down. I couldn't stop reading until I unraveled the mystery for myself! 

One thing I loved about Mortom was the intricate clues to the game. While some of them were a little more "duh" than others, I thought they were fun. I will admit that I had a number of them figured out before Andy, but it was still really fun to see Andy go through the obstacles of solving the puzzle. In that same sense, Mortom kept me guessing. While I had a general idea of how the novel would end, I kept rethinking myself because of all the confusing clues! This just goes to show you to never doubt your first instinct! 

I also loved the secondary characters in Mortom a lot. From Nate, the gas station attendant, to Debbie, the little girl across the street with some big secrets, they really made the novel for me. Debbie in particular. Debbie's character was probably the most influential part of the entire Mortom puzzle and I really did not see that coming. There were some awkward and especially cringe-worthy moments that had me flabbergasted, but in the end it all played out for the better! I was a little put off by Debbie's grandfather, Ricky Simms. Ricky really had his own set of issues, but he appeared to make life a whole lot harder for himself. In the end he really made a couple of rash decisions that forever changed the lives of about 6 people. Seriously, he is one character to keep your eyes on. 

In true mystery fashion, the villain of this novel turns out to be an obscure character you only meet for a second. While I kind of had an idea of who it was, I really could not be positive due to all the interesting characters we get to meet in the city of Mortom. Like I mentioned before, this one really kept me guessing, which was really an enjoyable experience. But I will say that villain was definitely villainous, in fact, I really wanted him to die. He was awful and creepy as all get out. Kudos to Therme for making is entire existence one that definitely gave me chills! 

In the end, was playing the game worth it? Were the secrets Kate and Andy risked it all to solve worth the risk? To that I really don't know. It seems that the only people who gained anything from the game were the two of them. In fact, well.... only one of them. Neither Andy nor Kate really receive any absolution from the novels climax. If anything it only adds to their troubles. 

Per the ending itself. I really liked how it pretty much wrapped up the story for us. There were no cliffhangers or glaring plot holes, but it definitely left me wanting a bit more from at least one character (Andy). I feel like Andy really got a rough deal in this novel and would love to read more about what happens to him after the last page. We leave Andy in a rough place that definitely looks like he is headed down a road nobody wants to be on! 

All-in-all, I am granting Mortom by Erik Therme a well-deserved 4-star review. While I did take issue with a handful of elements from the novel, the mystery/horror aspect of it kept me going. Once I got into it I could NOT put it down. Mortom took me on an awesome journey that I am glad I got to experience. Original, unique, and thought-provoking, Mortom is great for any reader who enjoys getting their mind blown. Perfect for fans of suspense, thrillers, mystery, and horror, Mortom is sure to please! I know that I will be keeping a close eye on the career of Erik Therme in the future, this man has talent! Be careful not to muss anything when you are reading, you never know what may happen when you take the ride into Mortom!

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Alright readers, that is all I have for you on the topic of Mortom by Erik Therme, an awesome read that is sure to blow your minds the way it blew mine! It's a relatively short read, clocking in at just over 200 pages on my Nook, so you have no reason to not check it out! Does Mortom sound like the read for you? If so, head over to the Goodreads and purchase links above to learn more! Already read Mortom? Let me know what you think in the comments below! Special thanks to Erik Therme for supplying me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. I sincerely apologize that it has taken me so long to get it finished! Things are finally getting back on track for me here so everyone be on the look out for many more reviews to come, I've got lots to catch up on! Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan