Review - Dancing With Deception by Andrea Heltsley

Synopsis:

How far would you go to keep your nightmares a secret?
Wendy has been struggling with vivid, chilling nightmares that leave her exhausted and horrified. What will Wendy do to protect her secret when she discovers her nightmares are real? Death is coming and he’s coming for her.

Read the chilling prequel to the paranormal romance, Dancing with Death.

Amazon

Review: This was a short story consisting of around 50ish pages and while there was a good bit of death and mystery packed into those pages it just fell a bit flat for me. I didn't have a chance to really feel anything for the characters one way or another. I couldn't understand why Wendy didn't reach out at least to her close friends for help when the nightmares began. Had it been me I would have been terrified to have my dreams become real especially with absentee parents and having to stay alone at night all the time. Everything just felt so disconnected and choppy and when it seemed things were beginning to start making sense it just ends. I felt like I had hit a brick wall and ended up with far more questions than answers.

About the Author:

I’m a biologist turned writer. I write YA/NA paranormal romance books mainly. I’m the author of Devour and have several more books scheduled to come out later in 2013. I book blog for fun. I also have a strong addiction to caffeine and fruit snacks. You can find me in Tennessee with my husband and two Italian greyhounds.

If you ask anyone, I’m a total fangirl! I love the entertainment industry. I love Revenge and the Vampire Diaries on television. My favorite movies are Elektra and P.S. I Love You. I have a definite weakness for Tim Burton movies too. I’m beyond a huge fangirl for Shakira, both her English and Spanish music; Jack’s Mannequin comes in a close second. I have too many favorite authors to list, but Kelley Armstrong and Rachel Vincent are two of them. I’ve read all their books.

Guest Post/Giveaway and Tour - Lost In Time by Christie Palmer

Synopsis:

Hidden in the shadows of the Infernos, Celeste is surrounded by the protection of Dante and her brothers. She is a Demon/Reaper a being that should never have been. An elite fighter, Celeste has honed her fighting skills and is a deadly weapon for Dante. Her one weakness? A Fallen Angel she has loved for two centuries.

Marcus a Fallen Angel knew the unconditional love of the Gods, and Angels. But he fell to the mortal plane in dishonor. Five hundred years ago he fell for a mortal, but she spurned him. Taking a vow of celibacy he has dedicated himself to fighting the evils of the world. Believing that he will one day be worthy of his lost mortals love as well as redemption from the Angels who turned him away.

One of the First… Calliope has been released onto the mortal plane. His one and only goal is to destroy Dante and the Reapers. Taking his rightful place as the ruler of the Infernos.

The only weapon that can kill Calliope is the Black Sword, a sword so evil only one creature in existence can carry it. Celeste. But she can’t hunt down Calliope on her own. She is forced to partner with the one being she wants more than life itself, Marcus.

Can a Reaper/Demon and a Fallen Angel work together to kill Calliope before he succeeds in taking over the Infernos and releasing hell on earth?

Guest Post
Paranormal Fiction and Fantasy has really exploded over the past few years...why do you feel that is and do you think it's just a fad of the times and will slowly fade away or gain even more popularity?

This is a great question. As of right now, I am waiting on 3 different book release’s happening in the next couple of months so I don’t think the genre is going anywhere. And I am not the exception because I am a writer. I have had fans email me asking when my next book is coming out. So there is room to grow and expand in the genre.

That being said, I don’t think the paranormal/fantasy genre has peaked either. Lucky for readers and long time fantasy/paranormal fans the Harry Potter and Twilight craze introduced new fans to the genre who are always looking for new and exciting authors and books. I have been a fan of sci-fi and fantasy my entire life. And to see it blossom into what it is today just warms my heart.

The great thing is the plethora of sub-genres in the paranormal and fantasy arena. Each one growing faster than writers can publish books. It makes the genre and sub-genre limitless.

It’s about creating worlds and characters that touch something in a reader making them want to come back for more.  As long as good books and great authors are out there building new worlds for readers it will continue to grow. I have been waiting my entire life for mainstream to love the types of books that are now popular fiction. So I don’t think it is going anywhere anytime soon.

I think paranormal/fantasy is so popular because you can get lost. The world today is a scare and threatening place, you can pick up a paranormal/fantasy book and get lost in or world of make believe and forget for awhile the atrocities of reality. That is the pull of fantasy. Readers who wouldn’t have picked up a fantasy/paranormal book are now picking them up, reading them and enjoying them.

Paranormal/Fantasy is defiantly not a fad with fan base growing. It might not continue to be the ‘big’ thing. But we are here now and the readers want more so we won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.

About the Author:

Who am I?
This is a tough question to answer, it would be cliché’ to say: "I'm whoever you want me to be." (Wink, wink)
However, the bare facts are, I'm a mother of 2, a wife of almost 20 years, a daughter, sister, friend, loud obnoxious cubical partner. (Seriously, we aren't meant to be stuck together, in tiny boxes like this.)

I have a B.S. Degree in Information Technology. And I want nothing more in the world than to be a published author of Urban Fantasy Romance.

I was born and raised in a suburb of Salt Lake City, UT. called West Jordan. Where I live, about 2 miles from the home I grew up in. World traveler I am not.

I currently work a full time day job as a Business Analyst which is a fancy term for I work on a computer all day. (boooo, this technical stuff makes my muse cry). Nuff said. One day I will be a full time writer. Until then, I shall slog along at my day job.

So if I'm not working the day job or writing. You will find me reading, which is my greatest past time. Unless, my family has kidnapped me! Taken me out of my comfort zone! Away from running water, and a flushing toilet, away from electricity and God forbid Wi-Fi. (It makes no sense to want leave the city!! There are things outside of the city that can kill, and eat you. NO thanks.) Camping, they’ve taken me camping….. (sniff sniff).

Or you might find me cycling, which is my new hobby, even though I tend to crash a lot! My husband calls me crash, but I love it. When I cycle I feel free, my brain and all my characters are quiet, and I can think. After 20 miles or so I am able to internalize my next moves not only in life but in writing as well. I am a true believe that everyone needs this type of release. You just have to find what that release is for you.

I obsessively stalk Twitter, Facebook, and lurk in Yahoo groups rarely making comments. I’m working on that part, wish me luck.

I love music and if I am I ever seen without my iPhone I have been kidnapped by aliens and every action should be taken to retrieve the real me.

What if they don’t have running water, flushing toilets, electricity or…say it isn’t possible Wi-Fi in space??

Author Website / Yahoo / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

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Review - Devour by Andrea Heltsley

Synopsis:

He wasn’t supposed to remember.
Callie is a royal vampire. She hunts by taking the blood from her victims and erases their memories afterwards. She goes undetected until a victim named Chase approaches her with all his memories intact. He is intrigued and attracted. She is terrified. What happens when a human mixes with the immortal world? Chaos.
Callie’s 18th birthday has passed and she is coming out at the annual blood ball. Will she find a mate or will she suffer the repercussions of her indiscretion? She is brought to the Vampire council and they must decide what to do with Chase. Do they kill him, or turn him to protect their secret?

Review: I liked Devour fairly well. It didn't have much action or romance involved but still had an interesting enough story line to keep me reading. It was interesting reading about the vampire girls coming out kind of reminded me of a Debutante Ball sort of. I never could make my mind up whether I ever liked Chase or not though? I mean he was placed in the bad situation thru no fault of his own but he didn't have to be so obnoxious. On the other hand I immediately fell in love with Cody! He was like a fairy tale prince come true! I recommend Devour for those seeking a light, quick vampirish read.

About the Author:

I’m a biologist turned writer. I write YA/NA paranormal romance books mainly. I’m the author of Devour and have several more books scheduled to come out later in 2013. I book blog for fun. I also have a strong addiction to caffeine and fruit snacks. You can find me in Tennessee with my husband and two Italian greyhounds.
If you ask anyone, I’m a total fangirl! I love the entertainment industry. I love Revenge and the Vampire Diaries on television. My favorite movies are Elektra and P.S. I Love You. I have a definite weakness for Tim Burton movies too. I’m beyond a huge fangirl for Shakira, both her English and Spanish music; Jack’s Mannequin comes in a close second. I have too many favorite authors to list, but Kelley Armstrong and Rachel Vincent are two of them. I’ve read all their books J

Review - Infinity by Sedona Venez

Synopsis:

Infinity discovers a dark secret from her past that rocks everything she knows to be true.

A troubled 22-year-old superstar singer, Infinity has a bad reputation for drugs and hard partying. Now, she is on the road to a comeback with her controversial tour. But everything about doing the concert feels wrong from missing employees, to anonymous threats about ruining her career. She is dealing with a powerful corporation that is determined to kill her and everyone she loves. She is also battling for control of her life and career from a relationship that crossed the fine line between love and obsession. Infinity knows too much, even though she doesn't realize it. Secrets have been kept and these secrets are powerful enough to destroy her and everyone she loves.

Now she must put her safety and trust in the hands of sexy, tattooed and delicious Torch Channing and Boulder Vigari, hired to keep her from getting killed. Boulder wants to make her his. He won't stop until he claims her. Torch struggles with his primal need to possess her and his hatred of everything she represents.

Infinity is determined to protect her heart while dealing with the pressure of pulling off another successful tour without spiraling into another mental meltdown.

Review:

Okay so I had to take a few days to gather my thoughts on the story and decided while it actually was a story that drove me crazy and I really really really disliked Infinity that it still actually had a decent plot. Infinity has got to be the most shallow self centered person I have ever read about and I really can't express enough how much I disliked her.

I feel like my dislike for her stems from knowing a person or two like her in "real life" and how they always tried to downplay everybody else by up-playing themselves and how no matter what goes wrong it's never "their" fault but somebody else's.

And OMG if I never ever hear the word "virgin" again it will be far to soon! That was another thing...I love my mom dearly and we are very close but the day I talk about actual sex or the lack thereof with her will be a cold day in Hades!

Author Bio:

Sedona Venez writes paranormal romance, urban fantasy romance, and science fiction romance. She lives in the North East in the city that never sleeps. Sedona can be found online in all the usual haunts:

Her Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Only Love by Elle Chardou Book Blast

Only Love (The Atonement Series)

Deirdre Bardot’s life changed almost one year ago when her father was run over by a drunk driver and his crime was never solved. In the last few months, she has ended therapy, found love in the arms of Colin van der Meer, her psychiatrist’s son, and they are now engaged to be married and are expecting their first child…
A grave secret is revealed on a routine check-up and Deirdre, feeling lost and alone, flees her old life, leaving her fiancée and the city of her birth, Seattle, behind her.
She quickly settles in La Jolla, California and meets her sexy—if not mysterious—next door neighbor, Drake O’Connell. After he proves he is more than just a good looking face when tragedy strikes Deirdre, she is left with one of the most terrifying decisions of her life.
Colin is back and he isn’t ready to take “no” for an answer. Although she still loves her former fiancée, she finds herself head over heels and slowly falling in love with Drake.
Deirdre has no choice but to make a decision: she can fight for the past and the world she knew or she can fight for an unknown future that could bring her more happiness than her heart can hold.

The Atonement series consists of the following books:
Atonement (Deirdre and Colin’s story)
Only Love (Deirdre, Drake and Colin’s story; March, 2013)
Only Time (Caitlyn and Liam’s story: May, 2013)
Only You (Drew and Aubrey’s story; July, 2013)

The books do not have to be read in order nor do they have to each be read to understand the series.

Biography

Elle Chardou is a world traveler and author of several different series.
Ms. Chardou is the author of The Ties That Bind Trilogy, The Atonement Series, The Hart Family Saga, The Vamp Saga, The Supernaturals, Beginnings: Book I (The Plague) series.
She is currently working on Only Time (The Atonement Series), and Queen of the Immortals, Book Three in The Vamp Saga. Ms. Chardou has lived abroad in Stockholm (Sweden), Manchester (England), Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area and Portland. She currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Contact Information

Blog: The Beautiful People: A Writer’s Journey
Follow Elle Chardou on Twitter:
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If you would like to email me, I can be reached at: ellechardou@gmail.com

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