The Blood Scion by Nazarea Cover Reveal (Announcement + Excerpt)

Today we are having a cover reveal for THE BLOOD SCION by Nazarea Andrews. This book will be released in November and it is the beginning of a brand new series from Nazarea, The Scion Legacy. As an added bonus, The Scionless House, a novella in the series, will be FREE when it releases on October 30th! Check out the exclusive excerpt below for a sneak peek at The Blood Scion.

Click here to add THE BLOOD SCION to Goodreads 

THE BLOOD SCION Blurb:

I was just a reporter, trying to stay ahead of my student loans. I knew the rules, and I followed them. I thought I knew how the world worked—humans lived their petty little lives in the safety of the sun. We loved and fought and—when the sun sank—we scurried behind our walls and lived in fear. That is when the monsters came out to play. And even in the safety of the sun, we knew who ruled us. The Houses. And their Scions. Everyone knows the great Houses and their Scions—they are feared and loved and hated and envied. They are the gods who walk the shadows and rule all of our lives. They are salvation and death. And somehow, I am one of them.

Exclusive Excerpt:

“Farley?” I blink, and stare at my intern. She’s a tiny little thing, and it occurs to me—not for the first time—that I have no business putting her in an office like this. We aren’t doing the smart thing—we don’t toe the House line. We’re too little for them to care, but I’m well aware that it’s not exactly safe. “What is it?” “You have a lunch appointment, ma’am.” I frown. “Since when?” “Hendin set it up.” I breathe a curse. Kevin Hendin might be the best damn editor I’ve ever met, but he’s still a fucking pain in the ass. I swallow that thought down and save the draft I’m working on, rising and shrugging into my suit coat. “Where?” “Silver and Ivy.” I go still. Who the hell are we meeting that can afford S&I? It’s one of the finest restaurants in the city, completely human, and expensive as fuck. Winston took me there when I graduated from NYU. Of course, it was for a tiny glass of wine and a shared dessert—neither of us could afford more than that—but it was a sweet gesture that meant a lot, especially coming from my ridiculously practical brother. “Ma’am?” I blink out of my thoughts to focus on my intern, and snatch up my laptop and phone. Shove both with my wallet into my messenger bag and snag my glasses and notebook before I dart out. It’s ridiculous to use a notebook, these days. Everyone has gone digital—what was a gathering wave before Brakken—became a way of life in the aftermath. The Houses controlled everything after, and pushed tech hard. Some people believed it was out of kindness. It wasn’t. But I’ve never been blinded by the pretty veneer of the Houses or their Scions. Silver and Ivy is one of the last places in New York that can still maintain their human only clientele. Because they cater to the wealthy, and even in the aftermath of the plague and all the change that the Houses inflicted on us, the wealthy maintains a level of untouchability. They are protected by that comfort of security that money can buy. Even the wealthiest in our country could be bought by one of the Houses, but I think it amuses them to let the one percent cling to the illusion that they are still different from the rest of us. I step into S&I and belatedly realize that I don’t know who I’m meeting. I mutter a soft curse and the eyebrow of the host twitches in response. No, I suppose he isn’t used to young reporters with a gutter mouth spilling into his lunch hour. I grin, and run a hand through my hair. I’m about to screw up his whole day. I amble up to where he wait and he gives me a frosty stare. “I’m meeting someone,” I say. His gaze sweeps over me and his lips curls just a little, all annoyed disdain that pisses me off. “And you are?” “Farley Hart.” His eyes go wide and he pales, so much so I take a step back. Something is very wrong about all of this, and Winston always told me to listen to my gut. I take another step, and a hand clamps down on my arm, rooting me to the spot. It’s icy and burning and so damn unmovable. I know, even before I let my gaze crawl up. Shiny boots, a pristine black suit that cost more than my degree, a startlingly white shirt with a skinny black tie. Wide shoulders, thin waist, and a hand that’s fucking huge, latched onto me. A ring glints on his finger and I focus on that, on the strange sigil worked into the metal. It’s not gold, and it sure as hell isn’t silver. It’s almost dull. Iron? “Oh shit,” I mutter. A vampire is holding me, keeping me from bolting. And if that weren’t bad enough—it’s a damn Blood Prince. 

Click here to add THE SCIONLESS HOUSE to Goodreads 

THE SCIONLESS HOUSE Blurb: 

Twelve Houses. Twelve vampire lines. We ruled from the shadows, and manipulated the world, and when humans came too close to destruction, we intervened. Every House has a Scion. A fragile, easily broken human that stood shoulder to shoulder with the house Princes and Princesses. Except for ours. The Ravens, House Cantelie. We've been without a Scion for almost fifteen years. But that will change...and her life will be mine to protect.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

Stolen Empire by Sherry D. Ficklin Box Set

Introducing The Stolen Empire Trilogy Box Set

Now Available, you will be able to get ALL THREE of The Stolen Empire Novels, together in one amazing Box Set Edition!

The Stolen Empire series is a decedent look at one of history's most scandalous queens, Catherine the Great of Russia. Beginning with her humble origins and culminating with her coronation, this series offers a fanciful glimpse inside the life of the dynamic, strong young woman who won the hand of a king, the heart of a nation, and, ultimately, sacrificed her own innocence on the throne of an empire. The trials and tribulations of court life left their scars on young Sophie—the girl who would be Catherine, but she faced down every obstacle with the courage and grace of a queen. Don't miss the series dubbed a "must-read romance" by the USA Today and "An entertaining and racy read" by School Library Journal. Fans of the hit TV show REIGN will devour this scandalous glimpse into the life of one of the most vibrant women in history.

No Cliffhangers, No Waiting, Read The Whole Story Together!

About The Author

Sherry D. Ficklin is a full time writer from Colorado where she lives with her husband, four kids, two dogs, and a fluctuating number of chickens and house guests. A former military brat, she loves to travel and meet new people. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she’s on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs.

She is the author of several novels for teens and young adults and in her spare time she co-hosts the Pop Lit Divas Radio Show.

Ignited (Donovan Circus #4) by Liz Long Cover Reveal

Hey folks, Ethan here with a post so exciting I can hardly contain myself! TODAY is cover reveal day for one of my most anticipated reads of the fall season! Any of my regular readers will tell you that Liz Long and this series are one of my all time favorites! It's not to be missed! Without farther adieu, here's the long-awaited cover reveal to Ignited!

Title: Ignited (Donovan Circus #4)
Author: Liz Long
Release Date: October 30, 2015
Genres: New Adult, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Self-Published

Lucy might’ve beaten Alex the Chameleon, but the cost of his defeat was too much to bear. After losing a beloved member, Sheffield Donovan temporarily disbands the show. Abandoned by the ringmaster and her friends, Lucy is left to pick up the pieces of their ruined circus – and defend it against those waiting for the opportunity to strike.

During one of these attempts, Lucy learns of Augustus Rivers, the leader of his so-called gifted mafia. When Lucy is offered a chance to infiltrate the Rivers’ household, she jumps at the opportunity to seek vengeance on the mastermind. Augustus instead surprises everyone by proposing that the powerful female Firestarter work for him. It’s everything the Donovan Circus isn’t, an offer Lucy finds more enticing than she ever expected.

With the Donovan Circus in shambles and the gifted world on the cusp of war, can Lucy Sullivan figure out who she’s meant to be? Or will her fire destroy everything they’ve built?

Liz Long

Liz Long is a ridiculously proud graduate of Longwood University with a BA in English. Her inspiration comes from action and thriller genres and she spends entirely too much time watching superhero movies. Her fabulous day job as a social media editor includes writing for a publishing company in Roanoke, VA.

Her first book, Gifted, is the first book in the Donovan Circus series, where superpowers meets the circus. Burned is the second adventure. Her standalone book Witch Hearts, is a story about a serial killer hunting witches for their powers. All titles are available at Amazon on Kindle and paperback, Barnes & Noble for Nook, and iBooks.

Find Liz Online

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon Author Page

*****

Be sure to add this series to your TBR, every page is full of amazing! This definitely won't be the last you hear of Ignited. Be on the look out for all kinds of fun leading up to release day! Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Top 10 Most Anticipated Reads of Fall 2015

Hey readers! Ethan here on this first day of Fall 2015 with an exciting post for you all. Fall is, without question, my favorite season. Ethan here hates the summer heat. I love the back to school feeling, the harvest time, all things Halloween, and so much more. Bonfires, hayrides, and MY FREAKING BIRTHDAY all sit just on the horizon and will be filling my next few months. Who wouldn't be excited?

Fall has historically been known to present me with my favorite books of the entire year as well. Last year was a huge winner so 2015 has a lot to live up to. I thought I'd start out the season by showcasing my Top 10 Most Anticipated Reads of Fall 2015 with you guys so you can add them to your TBRs as well!

Please keep in mind that some of these novels do not have covers, official synopses, etc as of yet, but I'll include whatever I can! Without farther adieu, here are my top 10!

*In no particular order*
*My thoughts in orange*

1. Playing with Fire (Hacker #1) by Sherry D. Ficklin

With the incredible Sherry Ficklin at the helm, what's not to be excited about? I've seen her tackle history, paranormal, and even sci-fi. I know she's got the perfect skills to knock this story out of the park! As one of my favorite authors, I couldn't have more faith in Sherry if I tried!

One brilliant young hacker.
One experimental government aircraft.
One chance to keep it all from going up in flames.

Still recovering from her troubled past, Farris is no stranger to change. But when the military transfers her father across the country to an experimental aircraft squadron, settling in to a new life is the least of her problems. As a series of apparent computer glitches threaten the security of the fleet and the blame falls on her father, she decides to put her computer skills to use digging up the truth. Soon she’s drawn into the perilous world of a hacker who is determined to ground the fleet—at any cost.

When all signs lead to someone close to her as the mastermind, Farris will have to burn more than bridges to get to the truth. She will have to risk her fragile new life to uncover the identity of the cyber criminal before they can escalate from harmless tampering… to all out murder.

Release Date: October 27, 2015

2. Redemption (The Sophisticated #3) by Christina Manzari

Last year I spent a long time with a serious bookish hangover after devouring the first two novels in this series. I've been anxiously awaiting the finale of this trilogy ever since! So far this year, Manzari has unleashed two AMAZING NA Romances on us, but I am so excited to see her get back to the roots I fell in love with with Redemption!

No synopsis for this one yet, but check it out anyway!

Release Date: Early December 2015

3. Fatal Beauty by Nazarea Andrews

Any of my followers will know that I am more than a slightly obsessed with Nazarea Andrews. This woman has tackled more genres than any other author I know. I have massive amounts of respect for Andrews and have yet to read something of hers that didn't completely blow me away. I'll also add a confession here, I'm kind of on a dark romance kick (thanks KB Nelson) right now, and this couldn't speak to me any louder if it had a megaphone!

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 Date: October 6, 2015

4. For the Memory of Dragons (Dragons of Eternity #2) by Julie Wetzel

You guys may remember this series as the one that first turned me on to dragons. Prior to Julie Wetzel, they were my least favorite fantasy trope, she made me a believer! I was lucky enough to already devour this one, but I'm super pumped about the print release in October so I can rave about it all over again!

What do you do when a dragon crash-lands in your backyard?

That’s the question Terra’s faced with when one of these creatures plows down into her cornfield. Should she help out the hunk of a man the dragon turns into, or turn him over to the trigger-happy ‘authorities’ that have come looking for him? The deciding factor—he has no memory. Giving him up just doesn’t seem right… at least until she knows the truth of who he is.

Alex has forgotten a thing or two—his name being one of them—but he knows there is something important that he needs to remember, if he could just get his battered brain to work properly. A little rest might help, but there’s no time for that when the bullets start flying.

Now, he has to follow the few clues he has to discover who he is, and why people are trying to kill him. But that’s the easy part. The hard part will be keeping his hands off the lovely lady helping him.

Release Date: October 20, 2015

5. Ignited (Donovan Circus #4) by Liz Long

Okay. Anyone who knows me is aware that this is one of my all time favorites. Liz's writing gets better with each passing installment and this one is no exception. I've beta read this and I'm dying for the final copy so I can add this beauty to my bookshelf. This may be my favorite of the series thus far. Fans of Liz and her Donovan Circus are definitely going to love this one!

"Maybe I had to accept that the Donovan Circus no longer felt like home." 

Lucy might've beaten Alex the Chameleon, but the cost of his defeat was too much to bear. After losing a beloved member, Sheffield Donovan temporarily disbands the show. Abandoned by the ringmaster and her friends, Lucy is left to pick up the pieces of their ruined circus - and defend it against those waiting for the opportunity to strike. During one of these attempts, Lucy learns of Augustus Rivers, the leader of his so-called gifted mafia. When Lucy is offered a chance to infiltrate the Rivers' household, she jumps at the opportunity to seek vengeance on the mastermind. Augustus instead surprises everyone by proposing that the powerful female Firestarter work for him. It's everything the Donovan Circus isn't, an offer Lucy finds more enticing than she ever expected. With the Donovan Circus in shambles and the gifted world on the cusp of war, can Lucy Sullivan figure out who she's meant to be? Or will her fire destroy everything they've built?

Release Date: October 30, 2015

6. After Alice by Gregory Maguire

Gregory Maguire is my all-time favorite author. The man has changed my life in more ways than I could ever type out. His track record of retelling classic tales has forever secured him a spot on my auto-buy list. Imagine my delight and surprise when I found out he was tackling yet another of my all-time favorite worlds and stories? Maguire was born to re-write Wonderland. I have no doubt it'll be absolutely amazing!

When Alice toppled down the rabbit-hole 150 years ago, she found a Wonderland as rife with inconsistent rules and abrasive egos as the world she left behind. But what of that world? How did 1860s Oxford react to Alice's disappearance?
In this brilliant new work of fiction, Gregory Maguire turns his dazzling imagination to the question of underworlds, undergrounds, underpinnings — and understandings old and new, offering an inventive spin on Carroll's enduring tale. Ada, a friend of Alice's mentioned briefly in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, is off to visit her friend, but arrives a moment too late — and tumbles down the rabbit hole herself.

Ada brings to Wonderland her own imperfect apprehension of cause and effect as she embarks on an odyssey to find Alice and see her safely home from this surreal world below the world. If Euridyce can ever be returned to the arms of Orpheus, or Lazarus can be raised from the tomb, perhaps Alice can be returned to life. Either way, everything that happens next is After Alice.

Release Day: October 27, 2015

7. Eternal Sacrifice (Mortal Enchantment #3) by Stacey O'Neale

This series. Oh man. I can honestly say I've never been so hooked on a series so fast as I was with Mortal Enchantment. From the very first page, I knew this was a YA series to be reckoned with. It's become one of my favorites! I'm Stacey's self-proclaimed biggest fan and I have been constantly bugging her for into on the final installment! Elemental fiction at its' finest right here! Definitely going to be a bittersweet story. The end of an era for Stacey and this series! Excuse me while I sob in the corner come release day.

No synopsis for this one yet, but check it out anyway!

Release Date: Early December 2015

8. Rite of Revelation (Acceptance #2) by Sarah Negovetich 

Rite of Rejection (book one) was the final book I read of 2014 and ended my year on a really high note. In a bookish world where dystopian novels are everywhere, it takes a special author with true talent to stand out above the crowd. Thankfully Sarah Negovetich has just that. I absolutely cannot wait for this one to hit the shelves! 

No cover or synopsis for this one yet, but check out book one in the meantime!

Release Date: November 5, 2015

9. The Professor Woos the Witch (Nocturne Falls #4) by Kristen Painter

Last month, I devoured the first three novels in this series in record time. A town where it's Halloween every day? Sign me up! These stories were exactly what I needed at the time: short, sweet, and full of fun! Even after nearly a month I still get giddy just thinking about them! Can't say enough awesome about this Nocturne Falls series from Kristen Painter. We may not have a cover yet, but with as great as the past few have been, I can only imagine it'll be awesome. I'm kind of hoping for a green-theme with this one!

No cover or synopsis for this one yet, but check out book one in the meantime!

Release Date: October 2015

10. The Fifteenth Minute (Ivy Years #5) Sarina Bowen

Sarina Bowen is, quite possibly, my favorite New Adult author of them all. Each and every one of the novels (and novella) in this series have topped my 'best of' lists. In fact, one of them is one of my all-time favorite NA stories! Lianne really grew on me in book four so I have no doubt this this one will become a quick favorite! Plus, Sarina is just amazing. Like 'bow down and exalt' amazing. Long Live Queen Sarina!

Freshman Lianne Challice is known to millions of fans as Princess Vindi. But sometimes a silver screen sorceress just wants to hang up her wand, tell her manager to shove it, and become a normal college student. Too bad that’s harder than it looks.

She’s never lived a normal life. She hasn’t been to school since kindergarten. And getting close to anyone is just too risky — the last boy she kissed sold the story to a British tabloid.

But she can’t resist trying to get close to Daniel "DJ" Trevi, the hot, broody guy who spins tunes for hockey games in the arena. There's something haunting his dark eyes and she needs to know more.

DJ's genius is for expressing the mood of the crowd with a ten second song snippet. With just a click and a fade, he can spread hope, pathos or elation among six thousand screaming fans.

Too bad his college career is about to experience the same quick fade-out as one of his songs. He can't get close to Lianne, and he can't tell her why. And the fact that she seems to like him at all? Incredible.

Release Day: October 13, 2015

*****

Alright guys, there you have it: my Top 10 Most Anticipated Reads of Fall 2015! With my favorite season starting and all these amazing books on the horizon, I've got ten huge reasons to smile! Be sure to add all these reads to your TBR and come on back later in the season to see my thoughts on each of these novels. I can't wait! What are YOUR most anticipated reads of the season?

Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time, Happy Reading (and Happy Fall)!

-Ethan

Under His Skin (Alien Encounters #1) by Stacey O'Neale Blog Tour (Interview + Giveaway)

Hey readers! Happy Wednesday! Ethan here with an extremely exciting post for you guys today! Today I am the stop on the blog tour for one of my very favorite people's, the incredible Stacey O'Neale, newest novel. What are we raving about? Under His Skin, the first novel in Stacey's newest adult paranormal romance series, Alien Encounters. Today's post will feature some promo, an exclusive interview with the author, and an amazing giveaway. Before we get to that though, here's a bit about the novel and our author:

A paranormal category romance from Entangled's Covet imprint...

Earth girls are never easy. But they're worth it.

Bakery owner Annabelle Sparks' business is booming ever since she won reality TV's Cupcake Wars. The one thing deflating her happy soufflé? The extremely sexy Kaden Chance only sees her as a best friend-and Annabelle wants so much more. After waiting a year for him recognize their chemistry, she's giving up and dating other people.

What she doesn't know is Kaden's heart doesn't actually beat. He's not human. Heck, he's not even from Earth. To retain his intergalactic immunity, no one can ever know he is an extraterrestrial. But when Annabelle starts dating, something strange happens to Kaden's unmoved heart: it begins to beat. Now he faces an impossible choice-tell Annabelle the truth and be deported-or lose his last chance at love.

          

Stacey O'Neale 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads

Stacey O'Neale lives in Annapolis, Maryland. When she's not writing, she spends her time fangirling over books, blogging, watching fantasy television shows, cheering for the Baltimore Ravens, and hanging out with her husband and daughter. Her career in publishing started as a blogger-turned-publicist for two successful small publishers. Stacey writes young adult paranormal romance and adult science fiction romance. Her books always include swoon-worthy heroes, snarky heroines, and lots of kissing. Stacey loves hearing from readers. Follow her on Twitter @StaceyONeale, look for her on Facebook, Pinterest, and GoodReads. You can also visit her blog at http://staceyoneale.com/.

*****

Interview with Stacey O'Neale

Mrs. Stacey,
Thank you so much for answering these interview questions for me. You know I am a huge fan of your, so having you back on One Guy’s Guide to Good Reads is a huge honor! As your self-proclaimed biggest fan, I hope you enjoy these questions!

1. Under His Skin is your very first foray into Adult Paranormal Romance. Coming off a massively successful, award-winning YA series, Mortal Enchantment, what prompted the change?
I get book ideas in many different genres (contemporary, fantasy, sci-fi, etc.). Ideally, I’d like to be an author that writes both YA and Adult. But I sat down and wrote this one because I couldn’t get it out of my head. It was one of the easiest novels to write. I don’t know why. The concept was just very clear to me from the beginning.

2. While I’ve read several alien novels in my day, Under His Skin is among the most unique. What was your inspiration for such an original plot?
I binge watched the entire ROSWELL series in one weekend. Afterwards, I started wondering what the show would’ve been like if the characters had been adults instead of teenagers. Then I started thinking about popular movies and television shows that have featured aliens. In most cases, the aliens were running from the government or trying to destroy us all. I thought it would be fun to write a story where the aliens were actually working with the government. The story developed from there.

3. Let’s get a little awkward for a moment. Under His Skin has some straight up steamy scenes. I’ll admit, I was a little nervous about reading them since I’ve only read your YA series. Pitching towards a whole new audience of readers, how difficult (or easy) was it to write those scenes of ‘adult content’?
I was so relieved to write those scenes. LOL! As a YA author, you’re constantly treading a fine line when it comes to your characters sexuality. You don’t want to offend readers. As a Mom, I understand. That’s why I couldn’t wait to write an adult story without any limitations.

4. Today’s current readers market is perfect and prime for a novel like Under His Skin. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind with this release?
I’m just excited to get it out there to readers. I hope my MORTAL ENCHANTMENT readers will give it a chance, although I admit the books are very different. The ME series is story driven, while I think this series is character driven. And I also hope new readers discover me (and enjoy the book). That would be pretty awesome.

5. In five words or less, describe the relationship between Annabelle and Kaden.
Complicated, Passionate, Tender, Quirky, Lovely

6. What can we expect next from the mind of Stacey O’Neale? What’s the latest scoop on Eternal Sacrifice (Mortal Enchantment, #4)?
I had originally hoped to release Eternal Sacrifice in September, but when Entangled moved the released date of this novel to September 21st, I decided to move ES to December. I don’t want to saturate my audience. After I finish writing Eternal Sacrifice, I’m going to write a contemporary military romance for my agent. When that’s done, I’ll write the next book in this series.

7. If Under His Skin was set to be the next Hollywood blockbuster, who is playing Annabelle and Kaden?
My dream cast would be Tyler Hoechlin and Felicity Jones.

Random Icebreaker with Stacey O’Neale

If you were a scented a candle, what scent would you be? Why?
Ha! I would be pumpkin spice because I love Fall, and will eat almost anything made of pumpkin. ;-)

*****

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Alright folks, that's all I have for you on the topic of Under His Skin by Stacey O'Neale, but don't worry, there's more to come! I will be posting my review of this novel ASAP so be on the look out for my thoughts! Huge heads up, this one of temporarily on sale for only $0.99. Don't miss out on this incredible offer! Thanks to the author and her team for allowing me to participate and a huge thanks to everyone for stopping by. Until next time, Happy Reading!
-Ethan

Broken Fate by Jennifer Derrick Cover Reveal

COVER REVEAL

Clean Teen Publishing is proud to present the official cover reveal for BROKEN FATE by Jennifer Derrick. Check out this gorgeous cover and leave us a comment or two to let us know what you think of it. Plus, don't forget to add BROKEN FATE to your Goodreads TBR List!

RELEASING APRIL 18, 2016

Zeus gave her one simple job: Kill every human. Atropos—daughter of Zeus and the third goddess of Fate from Greek mythology —spends her eternal life snipping human lifelines when their mortal lives are over. As if being a killer doesn't make life miserable enough, she and her Fate-wielding sisters must live amongst the humans on Earth thanks to a long-running feud between their mother and Zeus. Living on Earth means they must mingle with the mortals, attend the local high school, and attempt to fit in—or at least not stand out too much.

Killing and mingling don't mix, which is why Atropos' number-one rule is to avoid all relationships with the humans. Caring for the people she has to kill is a fast track to insanity. However, when Alex Morgan walks into her first-period English class, she knows she's in for trouble. He's the worst kind of human for her to like—one with a rapidly approaching expiration date. And he makes Atropos want to break all the rules.

ABOUT JENNIFER DERRICK:

Jennifer Derrick became a writer at the age of six when her parents bought her a child’s typewriter for Christmas and agreed to pay her a penny per page for any stories she churned out. When she got older, Jennifer realized that she needed to make (much) more money from her writing so she first turned to the corporate world (where she learned that she is spectacularly unsuited to cubicle life) and ultimately to freelancing where she now writes everything from technical manuals to articles on personal finance and European-style board games. Her writing career came full circle when Clean Teen Publishing published Broken Fate, her first novel. By her calculations, her parents owe her about $3.00 for the book.

She lives in North Carolina and, when not writing, can often be found reading anything she can get her hands on, playing board games, watching sports, camping, running marathons, and playing with her dog

FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE

Bad Situation (Bad Reputation #2) by K.B. Nelson Review

Hey readers, Happy Sunday! Ethan here and I'm way behind on my reviews so I'm going to try and knock a few out of the way today. First up is a new release from one of my favorite New Adult authors of mine and also a dear friend, the incredible K.B. Nelson. On the chopping block today? Bad Situation, the highly anticipated second installment in the Bad Reputation series. Before we get to my thoughts, here's a bit about the novel and our author.

Obsession.
Addiction.
Loss.

Brick Valmont lost more than an ex-lover when Apple Malloy fell in love with Jensen Moon. Forced to face his issues, he seeks counseling from a psychologist who may have an agenda of her own. Meanwhile, Brick makes a valiant effort to reel Tyra Young back into his web of deceit to prove to Apple once and for all, that he will always be the king.

Apple Malloy knows she’s a changed woman, and refuses to be dragged back into Brick’s manipulative world. When she returns home to Carolina to collect her belongings, she’s forced to face the darkest pieces of her past. She must choose between loving Jensen, or slipping back into her old ways.

Bad Situation reunites Brick, Apple, Jensen, Cece, Dom, and Tyra in an escalating game of sexual seduction. And when the games go too far, someone will be forced to pay the ultimate price.

          

 K.B. Nelson

I grew up on a farm in Ohio, but that's not very interesting, is it? 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. If my heart had two feet, one foot would be in romance and the other solidly in geekdom. I hope you'll all follow me on my journey through this carnival they call life. I promise there will be a happy ending. 

Find K.B. Nelson

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Goodreads *

*****

My Thoughts:

Allow me to be completely honest with you guys here. I was not anticipating this to be a novel I enjoyed, at all. While Bad Reputation definitely kept me intrigued, the idea of a redemption story for Brick gave me the worst taste in my mouth. As far as characters go, I'd never met one that I thought was damaged beyond repair. One person who never deserved a ray of hope or an ounce of salvation. Then I met Brick Valmont. This deeply disturbed guy is evil down to his very core, even after reading, I'm still not sold on him. I can say, however, that KB Nelson did an absolutely incredible job in warming my heart towards Brick and see that there can be redemption for even the darkest of souls.

Bad Situation is a whole lot like it's predecessor Bad Reputation, in fact, this almost reads as an extension of book one rather than an entirely separate novel. As told from both Apple and Brick's POV, we learn that Apple's 'happily ever after' we read in book one may not be all it's cracked up to be. With more heartbreak, more deception, and more drama, Bad Reputation sets the stage for Apple and Brick's groundbreaking finale in the best ways possible!

While I enjoyed book one, I was really turned off at times by the fact that this series is more or less about using love and sex as a game. Thankfully Nelson upped the ante in book two. While the game is still in play, the goals are a little more realistic and the sex really isn't as overbearing as book one. On a negative note, I will say that this is probably one of the most dramatic reads I've ever encountered. So much so that I had to put the book down several times and walk away. It's the good 'soap opera' kind of drama that leads me to wonder how many Daytime Emmy's Nelson has under her belt, but doesn't always appeal to me.

With twists and turns at every page, Nelson never lets the characters get too comfortable before tossing another wrench to their plans. I have to say that I was impressed with so many plot points that I didn't see coming, it was a treat to be constantly surprised. This story will definitely keep you on your toes. 

I have to add that when it comes to characters, I really think Nelson outdid herself when it came to character development with Brick and Tyra (Brick's newest conquest). While Apple ultimately fell short for me in this installment (in fact I think I could have done without her at all), Nelson's passion to redeem Brick was evident in the embodiment of Tyra. Tyra was written to perfection and really guided the story in the best of ways. In fact, I think she's become my favorite series character to-date. 

A relatively short read, fans will fly through this one in just a few sittings. I am confident that anyone who enjoyed book one will be pleasantly surprised with the outcome of book two. It's unexpected and emotional in ways I was not expecting, giving you hope for the characters at a time I thought there was none. 

With at least two more novels in this series planned, I am anxious to see how Nelson handles the stories of Cece and Dom. While Apple and Brick;s stories may be finished, Nelson has no shortage of story to tell with the predicaments she's placed her characters in. I know this reader will be anxiously awaiting!

With all this being said, I am granting Bad Situation a well-earned 4-star review. Perfect for fans of dark romance and the New Adult genre, this series is sure to be a hit! Be sure to add it to your TBR today!

*****

See my review of Bad Reputation

by clicking the cover below:

Alright folks, that's all I have for you on the topic of Bad Situation by KB Nelson. A little outside of my norm, for sure, but still a captivating story from page one! Don't miss it, add it to your TBR today. Special shoutout to the author for providing me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan