City of the Gods: The Descendants by S.J. McMillan Release Day Launch: Excerpt + Giveaway

Happy Friday! Today we are celebrating the release day launch of City of the Gods: The Descendant by S.J. McMillan! The novel is the first in the acclaimed City of the Gods series and is being re-released as a self-published work. We couldn't be more excited to share this awesome novel with you all! Today's post will feature an excerpt and an awesome giveaway. Here is a bit about the novel and our author:

City of the Gods: The Descendant
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: February 6, 2015
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal, Fiction

In ancient Mexico, a High Priest set a plague on a city as a demonstration of his power. The Gods took pity on the remaining loyal congregation. They granted each survivor immortality and an extraordinary ability. Three loyal survivors were given a mission of great importance: train the lone human descendant of their civilization to stop the evil from damning the rest of humanity.

Now in San Diego, California, the time has come to finally make Katalina Deckard aware of her destiny. Her life has been a constant struggle since the loss of her parents when she was young. These struggles have made her a fighter, but she doesn’t believe they have prepared her to save the world. Her friends, who have survived for so long, must convince her that she has what it takes to accept the mantle of the Redeemer.

     

S.J. McMillan

I live in Southwest Missouri with my awesome husband and our three lively children. My guilty pleasures include, but are limited to, reading whatever I can get my hands on, watching reality TV, singing loudly, and dancing terribly. My real passion is writing. I started writing poetry in high school. Over the years my writing has evolved into creating Urban Fantasies. I get immersed in the lives of my characters, in their struggles and in their triumphs.

Find S.J. McMillan

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | GOODREADS

*****

Excerpt

“Who did this?” Tristan asked quietly, almost more to himself than to Kat.

“Probably that bastard Ryan. He is going to pay for every last thing he demolished,” Kat replied, assuming Tristan was speaking about the chaos throughout the rest of the house. She stepped forward and looked around the room once more. It was then that she noticed the black flowers sitting on her dresser. Kat walked over and pulled the small white card from them. She opened the envelope to reveal a card with a beautiful picture of the same flower in white. Tristan came to stand behind her as she opened the card. It was a simple message, but one she would not soon forget.
I am coming for you.

Tristan plucked the card from her hand and reread it. Kat stood frozen in place, shocked and confused. Her mind raced with unanswerable questions. Who was coming for her? What did they want from her? Was this actually some sick joke Ryan was playing or was someone really coming to get her? Her stomach churned and her head began to pound. She doubled over in pain while fear of the unknown trespasser flooded her brain. It was all too overwhelming.

Kat hugged her arms around her stomach. Her legs gave out and she fell to her knees on the floor. A cold sweat broke on her forehead. Kat was almost glad when black spots started to swim in her vision. She tried to ask Tristan for help, but she could not find her voice. Dizziness engulfed her, and she felt herself begin to fall the rest of the way to the floor. Tristan caught her just before her head and the floor collided. She could barely hear his concerned voice calling her name as the blackness surrounded her.

“Katalina, open your eyes.” Tristan shook her a bit, hoping she would regain consciousness. Sabine and Vivian had heard the commotion, rushed into the room, and directly to Kat’s side. To Tristan’s great relief, Katalina’s eyes opened a crack, enough to see the intensely harsh gaze she gave him. Tristan looked to the girls, who looked equally surprised by her reaction.

“Katalina?” Tristan questioned.

“Leave her alone,” Katalina responded and her nearly black eyes closed once again.

*****

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Alright everyone, that's all we have for you on the topic of City of the Gods: The Descendant by S.J. McMillan. Does this sound like the read for you? If so, don't miss your chance to win your own ecopy by entering the Rafflecopter above! Thank you so much for stopping by. Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

The Forlorned by Angela J. Townsend Cover Reveal

COVER REVEAL AND MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT:

We are excited to announce that we signed The Forlorned by Angela J. Townsend. The Forlorned, which will be published through Crimson Tree Publishing, is scheduled for release in late July 2015. In addition to its release in book format, The Forlorned will also be coming soon as a motion picture! For more information on the upcoming movie, check out the IMDb page here. 

Check out the hauntingly beautiful cover below and make sure to drop us a comment with what you think of it! Don't forget to share this cover beauty with your friends! 

Release Date: July 21, 2015

Publisher: Crimson Tree Publishing

Genre: Horror

When Tom Doherty first laid eyes on the lighthouse he knew it was damned.

An advertisement lured him to the island, offering a job renovating the old lighthouse and ramshackle buildings. What he didn't know was that he was the only applicant. None of the locals wanted the job – no one dared.

Isolated and alone, Tom soon discovers why. Messages from disembodied voices; ghostly visitations and escalating horrors draw Tom deeper into the island's evil past—a darkness that forces Tom to unbury the truth and bring demons of his own into the light.

About Angela J. Townsend

Angela Townsend was born in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Missoula, Montana. As a child, Angela grew up listening to stories told by her grandparents, ancient tales and legends of faraway places. Influenced by her Irish and Scottish heritage, Angela became an avid research historian, specializing in Celtic mythology. Her gift for storytelling finally led her to a full time career in historical research and writing. A writer in local community circulations, Angela is also a published genealogical and historical resource writer who has taught numerous research seminars. Currently, Angela divides her time between writing, playing Celtic music on her fiddle, and Irish dancing. 

Angela's first novel, Amarok, was published through Spencer Hill Press in 2012. Her newest novel, Angus MacBain and The Island of Sleeping Kings, was signed for publication with Clean Teen Publishing in 2013. 

Angela resides on a ranch, in rural Northwestern Montana, with her two children Levi and Grant. 

More books by Angela J. Townsend:

  

Want to READ MORE from Crimson Tree Publishing? 

Check out our huge selection of amazing reads! There's sure to be something for every reader!

Don't forget to subscribe to our V.I.P. Newsletter so you can be the first to know about our giveaways, special book deals, new releases and more! 

Waiting on Wednesday {22}

Hey everyone and welcome to my weekly Waiting on Wednesday meme post! This is just a once a week deal where each Wednesday I post about one book I am looking forward to reading and then link it up to the host blog, Breaking the Spine, where I can be connected to over 200 other readers and bloggers who are looking for a new read! My friend Kim from kimberlyfayereads participates in this meme each week and it has always looked like a great time. Below you will find the book cover, synopsis, Goodreads link and my reasons for waiting on this read! Enjoy!

This week's WOW is... Hexed Hearts by Becca Vincenza!

Title: Hexed Hearts

Author: Becca Vincenza
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Release Date: Late March/Early April
Cover Designer: Airicka’s Mystical Creations

Colette had known all her life that she was half human and half werewolf. She had no expectations of a life filled with love and adventure.

Everything changed on her 21st birthday. A curse cast by witches centuries ago set things in motion, things she could have never imagined. A past that Colette has no clue about has come back to steal her away.

When Hunter, her destined but very unexpected mate, arrives, she is at a complete loss. She must learn to forget an old love and how to make room for a new love.

The curse is being recast and Colette must stop it in order to save the wolves, all the while finding who she really is.

This is a New Adult, there is some subject matter not suitable for those under the age of 18  

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Why am I waiting?

Becca Vincenza may not be a familiar author to some of you, so allow me to make introductions. Becca, meet world. World, meet Becca Vincenza: the biggest up-and-coming name in New Adult Paranormal. Trust me people, if you aren't a fan of this incredible lady, you're about to become one. I came across Becca and her works several months ago at the recommendation of another author. At the time I was looking for someone to show me that NA could be more than cheesy romance. I wanted someone to prove to me that NA had a future outside of romance. And then I met Becca. Good Lord. Becca's Rebirth series has quickly become not only one of my favorite NA reads, but one of my favorite paranormal series to date! It's unique, it's full of more awesome than I could ever possible name, and above all: chock full of paranormal. So. Much. Paranormal. In fact, there is so much, Becca has to include a glossary at the end of her novels. Seriously. You love paranormal? You haven't seen anything yet! Also, did you guys read that synopsis? I don't know about you guys, but I can already tell this one may be Becca's best work yet! AND DID YOU SEE THAT COVER?! Yes. So. Much. Yes.

I'd also like to add that Becca is one of the nicest authors I have had the incredible pleasure of working with. She's great to her fans and never misses an opportunity to chat about the book world!

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What are YOU waiting on this week?

Check out this week's host post at Breaking the Spine by clicking here!

Thanks for stopping by, Happy Reading! 

-Ethan

Perfect Kind of Trouble by Chelsea Fine (Print) Release Day Launch

Hey everyone, Happy Tuesday! Today's a pretty big day for the book world. Why? It's the (print) release day for the second novel in my all time favorite New Adult series, Finding Fate! You guys have listened to me rave about this series for months, now the print versions are hitting the shelves! Today post will feature some awesome promotion and an excerpt from my favorite person on the planet, Mrs. Chelsea Fine! Join me in celebrating the (print) release of Perfect Kind of Trouble!

Sometimes when perfect falls apart, a little trouble fixes everything . . . 

Twenty-one-year-old Kayla Turner has lost everything. After spending most of her life taking care of her ailing mother, she just wants to spot a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. So when her late father-a man she barely knew-leaves her an inheritance, she finally breathes a sigh of relief . . . until she learns the inheritance comes with strings. Strings in the form of handsome playboy Daren Ackwood, her father's protégé. To see any of her inheritance, she's forced to team up with him. From his expensive car to those sexy dimples, Kayla's seen his type before. But Daren isn't who he seems to be . . .

Struggling to make amends for his family's mistakes, Daren has a life more Oliver Twist than Richie Rich these days. He's beyond grateful that James Turner included him in his will, but working with Turner's princess of a daughter to fulfill his cryptic last wish is making Daren wonder if being broke is really so bad. Still, she's just as beautiful as she is stubborn, and the more time he spends with Kayla, the less it feels right being without her. Soon Daren and Kayla begin to wonder if maybe the best gift Kayla's dad could have left them . . . was each other.

iBooks | KoBo | Google Play | IndieBound | BAM!

Chelsea Fine

Chelsea lives in Phoenix, Arizona where she spends most of her time writing stories, painting murals, and avoiding housework at all costs. She’s ridiculously bad at doing dishes and claims to be allergic to laundry. Her obsessions include: superheroes, coffee, sleeping-in, and crazy socks. She lives with her husband and two children, who graciously tolerate her inability to resist teenage drama on TV and her complete lack of skill in the kitchen.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

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Excerpt

I reach Mr. Perkins’s office and quickly park before climbing out of the car in my high heels.

The inheritance really could be only twenty dollars—or less—and spending an afternoon chained to Daren Ackwood to find it could be a complete waste of time, not to mention horribly awkward given our romantic encounter last night, but it’s worth a shot. Because if it turns out to be a substantial amount of money, everything could change.

Not only could I go back to nursing school, but I could afford a decent apartment and buy myself some time to find a new job—one where my boss isn’t demanding I work for free or flash him in order to pay off my mother’s debt.

Ugh. My life can really only go uphill from where I’m at.

I know money can’t buy happiness, and I believe that. But it would be nice to be out from under Big Joe’s threatening thumb. And sleeping in a cockroach-free apartment while eating regular hot meals wouldn’t be bad either.

I hurry down the sidewalk toward Mr. Perkins’s office, tripping a little in my shoes. Maybe wearing the skirt and heels again wasn’t such a great idea. But I wanted to look professional and responsible, and the gray dress is too hot and the only other pair of shoes I own are my beat-up sneakers from last night. I didn’t think a pencil skirt and a pair of dirty sneakers really said I can be trusted with my deceased father’s money. So I went with the pumps.

I wobble as my shoe catches on a small pebble and curse under my breath.

High heels really are a bitch.

Up ahead, I see Daren round a corner and hurry toward the office, now just a few yards down the sidewalk. I relax a little, knowing he’s not there yet. As we near each other, my stomach fills with butterflies. I don’t know what I’m more anxious about—the inheritance or seeing Daren.

We reach Eddie’s door at the same time.

“Good morning.” He smiles broadly.

“Morning,” I respond with a cheerful smile of my own.

Our smiles are exaggerated, like we’re trying to prove just how “okay” we are with the thing that never happened last night. Then our eyes meet in brief a clash of lust, and tension fills the air.

Daren is the first to break it. “So. You ready to do this?”

“I am,” I say.

The tension returns, but this time it’s laced with nervousness. We’re about to lock ourselves together. For money. The morning after we dry humped each other against a bar. It’s nothing less than weird and desperate. Which begs the question, why is Daren doing this?

I know why I’m subjecting myself to this craziness but I’m still not sure why Daren has agreed—especially without knowing how much money is at stake. Is he in it for the thrill? Is he just bored?

Whatever his reasons are, I’m grateful.

We enter the office and Eddie looks up from his messy desk, his glasses perched on his shiny head. Today he’s wearing a yellow button-up shirt with a plaid bow tie to match his plaid pants. The look suits him.

“You’ve returned,” he says brightly, standing to greet us. “I guess this means you’ve come to a decision about Mr. Turner’s letter?”

“We have,” I say.

Daren nods. “Yes.”

“Excellent.” Eddie clasps his hands together. “What have you decided?”

Daren and I exchange an anxious look. My stomach does a flip-flop, afraid he’s going to change his mind, but then he gives me a subtle nod and I nod back.

We turn to face Eddie, hold out our wrists, and at the same time say, “Cuff us.”

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Want to win one of 5 signed copies of Perfect Kind of Trouble? Of course you do! Enter the giveaway below!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Alright readers, that's all I have for you today on the topic of Perfect Kind of Trouble by Chelsea Fine. You guys all know how much I adore this woman and her works. Finding Fate is seriously one of my favorite NA series of all time. It will forever hold a special place in my bookish heart. BUY A COPY!! Oh and Chels? I love your guts! :P Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Hexed Hearts by Becca Vincenza Cover Reveal

Title: Hexed Hearts

Author: Becca Vincenza
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Release Date: Late March/Early April
Cover Designer: Airicka’s Mystical Creations

Colette had known all her life that she was half human and half werewolf. She had no expectations of a life filled with love and adventure.

Everything changed on her 21st birthday. A curse cast by witches centuries ago set things in motion, things she could have never imagined. A past that Colette has no clue about has come back to steal her away.

When Hunter, her destined but very unexpected mate, arrives, she is at a complete loss. She must learn to forget an old love and how to make room for a new love.

The curse is being recast and Colette must stop it in order to save the wolves, all the while finding who she really is.

This is a New Adult, there is some subject matter not suitable for those under the age of 18  

Excerpt

 I took in a huge breath and stuck out my hand.

“Colette Doe, and you are?” I waited. Yellow eyes didn’t move his arms from their resting place in front of his chest.

“Your mate.”

Well this was going to be more fun than I thought.

“I am trying here. Can you please?” I asked. I jutted my arm out again as if emphasizing the fact that I was standing there like an idiot.

“Hunter Felan,” he said. Hunter took a step closer finally letting his arms drop but he didn’t take my hand in his.

“Awesome, you have a name yellow eyes.” I said with a smile.

Hunter narrowed his eyes.

“Don’t call me that,” he said. He moved a little closer.

“What? Don’t like that pet name? How about growly voice? It is the only name I had for you since I met you.”

At that remark he snarled and moved into my space.

“You would have known my name before if you had asked.” He said through clenched teeth. His eyes flashed.

“I was partially unconscious since I’ve known you, thanks to you.” I said. My eye twitched, my body started to hum with anger.

“How the fuck was I supposed to know you pack-bonded with another wolf?”

I narrowed my eyes this time. A comeback was coming I could feel it. He waited, he looked like he was ready to let his firm line of a mouth relax, and a triumphant look in his eyes started to shine. When it hit me and I leaned back on my heels a satisfied smile spread across my lips.

“When I started to scream in pain because I was being ripped away from him. Unless you think so lowly of yourself, that I would cry just being pulled to you.” As satisfied as I was that I thought I won this, he looked more pleased by the second.

“So indirectly you just told me you find me attractive.” His mouth was now in a relaxed smile.

“I didn’t imply that, at all.” I sputtered.

“You did.” He was moving closer and closer.

Somehow my back found the wall, and my chest was about to be pressed against his. I looked up from the middle of his chest to his eyes. I swallowed hard. My heart took on a new beat, and butterflies flocked my stomach. My eyes collided with his and my wolf came to the surface. I had never felt her so strongly before. It was like she was looking out of my eyes for me, and seeing his wolf who also seemed to be right on the edge of his skin.

“She finds me attractive.” He whispered brushing his knuckles against my cheek.

Where his knuckles touched, I felt a trail of heat following. My knees never felt so weak. My eyelids had a mind of their own and started to shut from his delicate touches. My body seemed to bow at its own will. My lips suddenly felt too dry. I thought about licking them but I quickly stopped that thought from forming.

*****

Becca Vincenza

Becca Vincenza lives in wonderful Michigan. She has a love for Skittles, rainbows, Star Wars, and reading about hot men. When she’s not wearing her author hat, she’s working to pay off her student loans for her recently acquired English degree. She recently released the two books in her Rebirth Series and is set to release the third at the end of the year.

FIND BECCA VINCENZA

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

*****

Well guys, what do you think?! Is that cover incredible or what? Becca has quickly become a good friend of mine in the book world, her Rebirth series is one of my favorite NA Paranormal series. She's a great lady and an incredible author! Also, she's great to her fans! Be sure to hit her up and say hello! Make sure you tell her that Ethan sent ya! Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Hooked by Christine Manzari Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

Hey everyone and Happy Monday! I've got an awesome post for you guys today! A blog tour stop for one of the, hands down, BEST novels I have read in a very long time, Hooked by the incredible Christine Manzari! My tour stop will feature some awesome info about the novel and my 5-star review! Before we get going, here's a bit about Hooked:

Title: Hooked
Author: Christine Manzari
Age: NA
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release date: February 3, 2015

If you ask the confident and snarky skater girl, and she’s in the mood to share, she’ll tell you her name is Cat. She might even tell you that she’s hooked on graffiti, 80s movies, and having fun—the riskier the better. Cat will share a good time with you, but she won’t ever trust you enough to share her heart. It’s protected by secrets and she’d like to keep it that way.

Cat knows one thing for certain: Love isn’t really her thing.

If you ask the confident and rich pretty boy, he might tell you his name is Huck. He might even tell you he loves a challenge and is used to getting his way. He won’t tell you that his life is a mess because he risked his heart by trusting the wrong girl. Huck is ready for a change, he just wasn’t ready to get hooked on someone like Cat.

Huck knows one thing for certain: Love hasn’t done him any favors, but Cat just might be worth the risk.

Cat and Huck think a one-night stand seems harmless, but when all the little secrets they didn’t share turn out to be toxic truths, they realize how easily a one-night stand (or a few) could ruin everything.

The thing is, you can be ruined in more than one way. Once you’re HOOKED, what wouldn’t you risk for the chance at more?

About the Author

Christine Manzari

The first thing Christine does when she's getting ready to read a book is to crack the spine in at least five places. She wholeheartedly believes there is no place as comfy as the pages of a well-worn book. She's addicted to buying books, reading books, and writing books. Books, books, books. She also has a weakness for adventure, inappropriate humor, and coke (the caffeine-laden bubbly kind). Christine is from Forest Hill, Maryland where she lives with her husband, three kids, and her library of ugly spine books.  

Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads 

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My Thoughts:

Okay, I know you guys are sick of hearing this, but I'm going to say it once more. Ethan does not like romance. And damn it. He's about sick of these incredible authors changing his mind. I'm looking right at you Christine Manzari. You've made the list lady. *shakes fist*.

Guys, I'll be completely honest with you. I have read a plethora of New Adult reads. Ranging from romance to zombies, NA has pretty much controlled my life over the past year. This up and coming genre needs all the support it can get if it hopes to make it. And why shouldn't it? I'm a 'New Adult', why shouldn't I be pimping it? I'm a huge advocate for NA and would love to see it branch out beyond the contemporary romance spectrum. That being said, my, now two, favorite New Adult reads are contemporary romance. After devouring Chelsea Fine's Best Kind of Broken several times now, I never thought an NA would ever come close to hitting that mark for me. And then I read Hooked. Sweet Jesus. Someone get this woman an award. I loved each and ever second I spent with Huck and Cat. Honest to Goodness, I couldn't put this read down. I read it in one sitting. It was that great people. You know a book has to be good if I'm comparing it to Chelsea Fine. Seriously you guys. Seriously.

Setting. So Hooked takes place in Southern California. The city. The glitz and the glamour of SoCal. I've never been to SoCal, but one of my very best blogger friends, Christine from iHeartBigBooks lives there and she loved how accurate Manzari was with her locales. For me it was just plain fun! From the Boardwalks on the beach to the outdoor parties and summertime bars, I got such a fun vibe from Hooked. Everything about the settings Manzari used are fueled with emotion. You get the happy beach-side fin when we're learning all about Cat and the beginnings of the relationship. We get the strict professionalism when we're in Huck's corporate world. Later in the novel we get... other sad emotions... when we're other locations. Manzari played off of her characters' emotions with the settings in this novel better than any novel I can think of. It was incredible! 

Characters. I don't even know where to begin. I had so much fun with these characters. I think my favorite part about this NA was that it was so different than other in a few important ways. The main characters in this novel, Cat and Huck weren't looking for love. They don't need each other. This was certainly not an insta-love story and they sure as hell don't have it easy. Cat and Huck have one of the most memorable stories I have ever read. Sure it was fun and sure they had some... steamy moments, but honestly, Manzari has written such raw and emotion filled characters, that I couldn't help but fall in love with their story. Every twist and turn was incredible. Every triumph made me cheer and every heartache broke mine as well. I fell for these characters, hard. In addition to Cat and Huck, my favorite characters were Jay and Anita. Jay is Cat's room mate. He was hilarious. Not only was he funny, we also see some incredible character development with him as well. Jay comes across as a a little bit of an oddball in the beginning (or to me, anyway), but by the end of the novel, it blew me away how he could be Cat's best friend and yet be so close to Huck as well. It was all very real. I enjoyed that a whole lot. Anita is Cat's mom with a backstory all her own that I won't get in to here. I will tell you that she may be my favorite character in the whole novel. Get ready for the feels people.

Sidenote. Cat likes The Wizard of Oz. How could I not love her?

Theme. In addition to the romance and love thing, Hooked has several important themes that kept me 'hooked'. #punsftw Anyway. Cat's character development was incredible in itself, but she gave us a couple of important themes: 1) growing up, 2) the importance of family, and 3) having a fun side to offset your professional self. With the whole growing up thing, we see Cat mature from a fun loving girl with a professional job to a full blown woman with huge responsibility and grown up feelings. It was an awesome character transformation that really hits home with the fact that while being young can be fun, maturity comes with a whole lot of responsibility. Family is a big one in this novel. Cat and Anita's relationship is one huge roller coaster in this novel. By the end, I think we can all agree that we should all hold family to a little higher esteem. Lastly, and most importantly (in my opinion), was Cat's insistence that she could maintain a rocking personal life and it not interfere with her professional life. I love this. Most people think you have to either be 'young and dumb' or 'old and boring'. Cat shows everyone that balancing a lifestyle is do-able! I need to take a page out of Cat's book! 

Plot. This is hard to critique without getting into spoiler territory, so I will just tell you that you have to read it! Seriously guys. Like I said before, this story is unlike any other NA I have read. While it does focus on the romance between out two main characters, the story offers so much more. If anyone can finish this cover to cover without tearing up at least once, they don't have a soul. You read that right. No. Soul.

Conclusion. I know this is one of my shorter reviews, but honestly, I don't know what else to say. I'm not kidding when I say that this has been my favorite read of 2015 so far! Christine Manzari has really blossomed with this novel. I am a huge fan of hers. Her YA series, The Sophisticates, is one of my favorite YA series on the market, so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about her transition to NA. I have to say that I was completely blown away. After seeing her jump from YA Paranormal to NA Contemporary Romance, there is no doubt in my mind that this absolutely incredible author could tackle any genre she puts her mind to. I cannot say enough great things about her or her works.

All-in-all it should come as no surprise to anyone that I am granting Hooked a perfect 5+-star review. Is it crazy that I'm already excited to re-read this one? Because I am. Once some time has passed and I don't have to worry about being careful with the spoilers, I'd love to come back and add more to this review, because trust me, there was a lot I left out. Just trust me on this one readers, you will NOT want to miss this. 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Alright readers, that's all I have for you on the topic of Hooked by Christine Manzari. Like I said before, this is one of the best New Adult novels I have ever read. You guys will probably remember that I was a huge fan of Manzari's YA series, but I wasn't sure how I'd like this. Well, I loved it! Woohoo! I cannot wait to see more NA from this lady! Are you guys excited about Hooked? Let me know in the comments below! Huge thanks to the author and the team at Wordsmith Publicity for allowing me to participate! Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Just Like Gravity by Sorchia DuBois Review

Hey readers and a very happy Sunday to you! I've done a whole lot of reading lately and not a whole lot of reviewing, so I'm going to working on rectifying that this week. I'd like to get the ball rolling by sharing my thoughts on an incredible novel I just finished, written by another awesome local author! This time on the chopping block? Just Like Gravity by Sorchia DuBois. Before we get to my thoughts, here's a bit about the novel and our author:

How many times can you make the same mistake? How many lifetimes does it take to get it right? And how many people have to die in the process?

In Scotland, Anna searches for answers. She finds cold rain, steep hills... and terror. When she sees the ancient broch, the ruined building triggers a terror she can’t explain. Scenes from her past lives provide glimpses of the web of events linking her to the broch and the man she’s lost countless times before.

Trapped in an eddy of Fate invariably ending in blood, Anna tries to break the chain and protect what she lost before. Her tealeaves and tarot cards lead her, but the weight of the past may be too heavy.

          

Sorchia DuBois

Sorchia Dubois writes paranormal romance and mysteries from her upstairs office overlooking a piney Ozarks woods. She holds an M.A. in English and taught English at high school and college levels. Currently, she edits manuscripts for Oghma Creative Media, a small publisher in Northwest Arkansas, when she isn’t writing her own stuff.

Her books delve into the riddles of life and the occult—Karma, reincarnation, psychic powers, mysticism, ancient cultures, and good old fashioned “ghosties and ghoulies and long-legged beasties and things that go bump in the night.” Separating the real from the imagined and the earthly from the unearthly are the challenges her characters face. But supernatural experiences aren’t the only scary things in her books. People manage to get themselves in the most terrible messes without any supernatural influence at all.

A proud member of the Ross clan, Sorchia incorporates all things Celtic (especially Scottish) into her works. She likes a good sip of scotch now and again and can often be found at Scottish events. 

Find Sorchia DuBois

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | WEBSITE

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My Thoughts:

A few days ago, I was approached by our author to review this novel. I'll tell you guys, my review turnaround process is usually MUCH longer than few days, but something about this read just hit me and said "Ethan, check this out!". I've been on a roll lately with good reads and have been knocking these incredible manuscripts out like nobody's business. That being said, I'd be completely lying if I said I was 110% certain I was going to like this book from the beginning. Why?

This novel feature some awesome paranormal elements in the form of past lives. I'll be honest, this is not my favorite paranormal sub-genre. The multi-storyline format often becomes more trouble than it's worth to me. More times than not, these types of novels do not receive the greatest of reviews from me. I read to get away from life, not to have my mind confused as I try to piece the puzzles of the novel together. Thankfully, Sorchia DuBois had all of her ducks in a row and only confused me slightly!

Genre. So this is one of those topics than can be debated extensively when it comes to this novel. First and foremost, this is an adult read. Strictly. Intended for adults. I liked the maturity aspect of it, but unfortunately I was unable to relate with any of the characters on almost any level. Paranormal? Yes. The main character is a seer/fortune teller, with a twist! Historic fiction? I'd say yes. This could definitely count as a period novel. The three setting for the novel involve the seventeenth century, and pretty much the entire last 80 years of the twentieth century. Romance? Definitely. Most definitely. This was probably the only part of this read where I was a little turned off from it. There is definitely a lot of romance here, but it wasn't overbearing by any means. Just a forewarning though, there is lots of Scottish sex. How is it different? It's got more... kilts and accents and... slang... Haha!  Seriously though, it was well written and not erotica by any means, which I can appreciate. I will say there was a whole lot of description of the male MC's physical appearances and that was a little rough to read, but I was able to read through it with little difficulty. The author has a great knack for description.

Theme. This novel is among the most original and unique that I have read in quote some time. While the whole star-crossed lovers thing seems to be the main theme here, I really liked to think of it as a more 'love through the ages' thing. The idea of two individuals being together in various past lives or incarnations really intrigues me when it is written correctly. Unfortunately it is kind of hard to do this in novel format, because the characters have different names and actions in each period. I will openly say that I feel like the entire seventeenth century storyline could have been cut out of this novel, because even after finishing it, I really don't know how it tied into the story. It was, by far, the weakest link in our past life chain for me. Themes of family ties, starting anew, and acceptance were littered throughout this read while was a refreshing breath after so many 'one track' novels I have read lately. 

Setting. This was the very first novel I have read that was set in the Scottish Highlands. For me this has always been one of those 'unreadable settings'. I have always associated it with steamy Harlequin Romance novels that you find at the Dollar Store. Novels full of sexual tension, adultery, sword fights, and deflowering fair maidens. A whole lot of nope from this guy. Nothing I've ever been interested in. That being said, I was more than a little hesitant to read that this novel was also set in the Scottish Highlands.  Unlike those other authors, DuBois really was able to change my mind. Not only does DuBois do an incredible job of painting the landscape, she really takes the cake when it comes to outlining the cultural practices of Scotland. The vernacular, the clothing, the entire Scottish atmosphere, DuBois did it to perfection. In fact, this may have been my favorite part of this novel. DuBois is clearly well versed and extremely proud of her Scottish heritage and it shows in this novel!

Characters. I'll start out by saying that I LOVED the characters in this novel, they were so incredibly fun! Anna and Davy proved to be the most unlikely of duos and their chemistry was perfect. The character development that we see with their characters was incredible. I will say that my favorite characters in the novel ended up being some of the more minor characters. Barney was my favorite. We follow Barney's story for nearly 50 years. I feel like he really does a great job of grounding the story. Another one of my favorite characters was Fiona. I have a soft spot for the bad guys, especially ones whose storyline ends the way hers does. I have so much respect for that. Moira and Alex were also two of my favorites, they really did a great job of balancing their youth and the timelessness of the story. It was really refreshing. I love a good 'generational' read and DuBois did a great job of showcasing some of the greatest traits in her characters that were passed down over the years. One more character I would have liked to known more about would have been the ancestor of Anna's that left Europe for America and why. That really would have been fun to see! Maybe it was there and I missed it, which is entirely possible because the cast of characters in this read was HUGE. I had a real hard time keeping them straight. Overall though, I feel as though DuBois does an incredible job with her character development and that always plays a big part in my reviewing process!

Paranormal Element. As you guys all know, paranormal reads are always my favorite. Nothing gets me going like a great supernatural vibe in a novel. This novel definitely had that going for it. While it may not have been as "active" as I would have liked, our MC, Anna, is pretty awesome. Anna comes from a long line of fortune tellers who all have a knack for foretelling the crazy. Isn't that the best part about being a seer? Anna is extremely skeptical and hesitant with her gifts, but over the course of the novel, we get to witness her slow, but sure transformation into acceptance. The author does a really great job as painting these gifts as 'natural'. They don't seem fake or forced in any capacity and that was one of the greatest parts of the novel. The only other glaring paranormal element in this novel was the presence/existence of ghosts. The ghosts definitely were amusing, but I really don't understand how any, but one, actually played into the storyline. 

Length. I will say that this was one of my larger critiques of this novel. It was long. Unfortunately the formatting of my ebook version was a little off so each of my pages read as a half-page. So my copy was technically double the amount of pages it says it was. No fault of the author, of course. This read took me a long time to really get into, and even longer to get to a resolution. It was relatively slow moving, but there really was never a lull in the storyline. It was just a whole lot of build up for little events here and there. Like I mentioned before, I feel like one of the three storylines could have been completely removed, as I do not feel it added much to the storyline. That would have shaved quite a bit of time off of this read. These are just my thoughts, of course. Other reviews have mentioned that they loved that particularly part of the story. Unfortunately, it just caused the storyline to drag a bit for me. And then that ending! Bring on the feels! 

The Conclusion. This is where I will say the novel really excelled for me and only left me slightly disappointed. While all the loose ends were tied up, I was left with a lot of "why did this even matter in the end"? It really came down to, for me, a really evil antagonist who really had no reason to be as incredibly evil as he was. I will say that DuBois did a phenomenal job playing to the Scottish heritage and cultural part of this. A large part of this story revolves around family fueds going back many, many generations. In modern-day America, people really couldn't care less about their great-great-great grandparents' enemies. It was a neat way to also show how important the family legacy is to the Scottish culture. I'm also kind of glad that DuBois was able to wrap this all up into one story, because I'm not sure how this would actually work as a series. ALTHOUGH, I do have to say I am interested on one huge part of the plot that our main characters ultimately decided to shrug off. That being said, I really feel like this novel could have ended with an epilogue set a few months after. I really would like to know how a few things played out! I guess I'll just have to play it out in my head!

Anybody still here with me? Do you see what I mean when I say that this is one unique read? I hope so, because I cannot place enough emphasis on that! While it may not be the read for every peep in the book world, I am so glad I took a chance on it. All-in-all, I am granting Just Like Heaven a very well deserved 4-star review! While there were a few things that didn't necessarily work for me, I still found the novel to be enjoyable and fulfilling. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

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Alright readers, that's all I have for you on the topic of Just Like Gravity by Sorchia DuBois. An extremely unique and original novel that left me more than thrilled to have read it. Kudos to you Mrs. DuBois on an incredible novel. I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for you! What do you guys think? Sound like a read that would appeal to you? Be sure to check out the purchase and Goodreads links above! Already read it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan