Aloha Everyone. The idea of Read it then Pass it Program [RIPI] is easily said by Steph, "Used books need love to." So here are titles that I have read and would like to pass on. For more info on RIPI click on the image. Anyone can enter and anyone can host.
To Enter: 1. Email address. AT... DOT...com is okay if not in profile. 2. US Resident and be willing to accept Media Mail delivery which means it's cheaper shipping but takes longer. 3. Be a follower here!!=)
I've read every single one of these Shifter novels and loved the adventure. I will forever be a Team Marc groupie but who isn't (Sorry Team Jace). =D!
So in the title this one reads "BBA SPECIAL!" And it sure is. We at BBA, Book Bloggers Anonymous, know how to roll so for you all I have all 6 books of Rachel Vincent's Shifter series to be given away. I am giving them away as apart of the RIPI Program because they were the very ones that I read. Extra special, I know =D
I'd like to give these to someone who hasn't read the series or hasn't read the entire series, yet! However, anyone can enter. Also, I am cool with shipping to a friend or a sister of anyone who enters. So say you read the series but know your sister would love it then enter. I will ship Media in the US.
Extra 'BBA Love' entries:
I want to keep this simple so have at it. Do whatever you think is good to earn an extra entry and link it and/or say it below. The easiest way is to show BBA LOVE so follow us on Goodreads, follow other BBA Host Members, Comment on any of their reviews of the series. I will be posting my Stray review soon! When I do I will link it! Also, I am August's BBA Host so be sure to check those posts out too!!
Welcome. Welcome. Or in Hawaii where Summer is year around.... "E Komo Mai!" Below you will find 3 Prizes. A simple entry is all that's needed. Before you click down see my sidebar to the left for other giveaways (ones to come are in the schedule and there are some goodies). If interested, bookmark LovLivLife Reviews and come back when you're done entering the Summer Giveaway Hop. Xoxo!
Feel free to enter to giveaway as soon as I post it. Hawaiian time means I'm hours behind everyone so have at it already!! =)
Prize #1 (International including US)
Author Michelle Franklin is offering one of her ebooks and I am throwing One electronic book (ebook) of winner's choice under $10 from Amazon or One book under $10 from The Book Depository.
Here is what you will receive:
OR
AND
OR
If you'd like to show Michelle some love, visit her:
Check out Michelle's visit here @ LovLivLife Reviews: Click Here
Prize #2 (International including US)
Author Heidi Ruby Miller is offering one of her ebooks and I am throwing One electronic book (ebook) of winner's choice under $10 from Amazon or One book under $10 from The Book Depository.
If you follow my blog you know that I hit up the library book sales and there are a ton of goodies to be found. The sales help to fund the library needs so I am all to happy to make purchases even though I have the book or perhaps don't want to read it. I've been putting them aside for a reason just like this. Thus, winner will get to choose as many as they can fit into a large shipping package (the largest at Walmart) and be willing to accept books via Media Mail.
*I was able to fit 10-11 books in the Large Envelope for the last winner. How many books varies on the size. Mass Market books I can fit more while Trade paperbacks & Hardbacks are less.
How to enter: Leave in comments...
1. Be a follower here!!=)
2. Email address. AT... DOT...com is okay if not in profile.
3. Which prize: i.e., 1and 2 or ALL
4. Willing to accept Media Mail for #3?
Be sure to check out the other blogs offering giveaways
Thank you for having me at LovLivLife! I'm excited to talk about some of my characters and give away some books.
But, I'll try not to give away any spoilers…
Let's start with Sara Mendoza. She was never meant to be a Sara. Her original name was Ceriwen Moonstone, but my critique partners either loved it or hated it. Then there was the whole pronunciation problem, so I decided to go with a more accessible name, thus Ceriwen morphed into Sara on the page. And a funny thing happened—Sara's personality transformed, as well. She became a more dynamic, stronger female, the young heroine that Ceriwen never was. But I kept her original femininity because I'm not a big fan of women who are afraid to show emotions or admit they're attracted to another person or (oh my goodness!) wear a dress every now and then. In many ways Sara is much older and wiser than her eighteen years, and some of that can be attributed to Ceriwen's twenty-something attitudes from those early drafts. The ghost of Ceriwen lives somewhere inside of Sara, but there's only one true Ambasadora, and that's Sara Mendoza.
On the other hand, Sean was always Sean, in all of his wonderfully damaged incarnations. No matter how many drafts of the novel I wrote, Sean Cryer was the constant. He's the man we all want to save simply because he doesn't believe he's worthy of us. His loneliness and need to believe in something more than himself always spoke to me. Couple that with the tenderness and devotion he shows for Sara, and I knew Sean's character was spot on. He does some things that he's not proud of, but we can forgive him because he does it for the woman he loves. It also helps that he's sexy and doesn't really know it.
Because Sean and Sarahurt so much in this book, I felt they should always be kind and gentle with one another—what could they possibly have to fight about when the entire world was against them? Not a damn thing. That's why there are no arguments between them, no playing of games once they confess their feelings for one another, no pettiness…because there's no room for any of that amidst the struggle for their lives and their love.
And, that brings us to the third side of our love triangle—Rainer (pronounced RAY-ner, it's a German name) Varden. Without giving away too much, I can say that during the first draft of this book, I was often more in love with Rainer's character than Sean's and even sketched out a slightly different ending. I still like Rainer, so it's interesting to note that many of my male readers hated him and wanted some serious retribution to come to him, while the female readers recognized his goodness—even my mother commented on this. I suppose analyzing the difference in opinion based on gender could be the topic for an entirely separate post.
We'll see some interplay between Sean and Rainer in the next full-length novel, FRAGGER, which picks up a few weeks after the end of AMBASADORA. FRAGGER will be out in December. Until then, I'm finishing up the first two novellas in a series within the Ambasadora-verse which run concurrent with events in the main timeline. These are called AMBASADORA SENSUALS because they focus on the relationship between one specific couple and are more sensual in nature, so the heat level runs a bit higher than in the regular novels. The first one, due out by the end of August, is DAVID AND MARI. Those who already read AMBASADORA will remember David and Mari as a bit of comic relief among what is probably a dark book. Now you get to see how their relationship started as they have their own adventure just before Sara's arrival on the Bard. I love writing in this world, so expect many more stories, big and small, within the next few years.
Ten lucky readers who tweets a link to this post @lll808 and @heidirubymiller with the hashtags #AMBASADORA #SFR, then posts a comment here letting us know you Tweeted it, will receive a free e-copy of AMBASADORA (Heidi will offer Print Copies to US winners as it is available). If you already have AMBASADORA, Heidi will keep your email address and send you a free e-copy of DAVID AND MARI when it's available at the end of the August!
If everyone told you love wasn't real, would you still be willing to die for it?
Citizens of a six-moon system in our arm of the Milky Way don't remember Earth, only the History of a generational worldship culture. In their multi-partner society a caste system rules tradition, but the governing body of the Embassy rules everything else. Obsessed with celebrity, beauty, and power, relationships and conceptions are based more on DNA than emotional ties...or should be.
What the citizenry can't escape are the human feelings of love and jealousy that turn the sterile to honorable suicide, force a couple to make the ultimate sacrifice, and allow rebels to spin their world into a violent revolution.
Ambasadora Sara Mendoza becomes the unwilling face of this revolution. Captured, tortured, and given a second chance at freedom, she proves that sacrifice for the man she loves is more honorable than sacrifice to a society's antiquated mores.
My Review:
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
Ambasadora has everything written into one package. Gritty to the core with hope, love, pain, rage and violence weaved into and around. Gripped with emotion, I enjoyed this title and then some some.
Sara is a heroine for the history books. She is an unexpected hero and by no choice of hers. Thrown into a disastrous situation and left to hold together shattered pieces that was once her life. Sara is a survivor and what she embarks on changes the lives of many. In a world where deception and personal gain is everyone's game who is Sara to turn to?
While reading, I was emotionally invested in Ambasadora's story. I was really hoping for one particular man to step up to the plate but the saying 'too little too late' applies here. I've found myself wishing the worse possible fate for a few characters. I could not stop reading and wanted to see Sara through. Heidi Ruby Miller is an outstanding writer and story teller. Heidi writes full force giving her readers the whole story. Violence and love- both equally written to be felt.
All in all, I would recommend this novel to adult readers who love riveting story lines like urban fantasy readers. This novel is Science Fiction Fantasy and contains a whole new world just waiting to be discovered.
So Chasity was kind enough to let me interview one of my favorite characters for her fabulous blog. I chose Jack, the devil from my debut novel Crushed Seraphim. Because he lives in Hell, it took a while to get the Skype to work correctly. After we had sorted it out, my black screen faded to gray. The smoke shifted and layered a bit before he was visible. He sat on a hard, wooden chair and smirked when we could finally see each other.
“Debra.” He took a drag of his ever-present cigarette.
“Jack.”
He ran a hand through his long brown hair; his chiseled jaw and deep brown eyes were favored by his webcam.
“It’s good to see you.” I blew out an awkward sigh.
“Feeling a bit nervous, pet?” He winked.
“Well, I’m working on your sequel, so no. I’m not nervous.”
“You should be.” His sexy voice was laced with a threat. The smoke around him pulsated like anger was its fuel.
I waited, feeling a bit of fear clawing up my neck.
“I have work to do. You can be up there gallivanting all over the east coast for your vacation, but here? I’m still waiting for a resolution.” Jack tossed his cigarette with a well-practiced flick. There was a small explosion off screen. He plucked a bottle of amber-colored liquor from his choppy smoke.
“Drinking so early?” The computer screen gave me a boldness I was quite sure I wouldn’t have in person.
He took a swallow and raised an eyebrow. “My evenings never end. You know that.”
“Listen, I have a few questions from readers, can we just cut to them?” I took a sip of my Coke.
“Are you wearing penguin pajamas for a date with the Devil? Seriously?” Jack smirked, showing off a dimple and his blindingly white teeth.
“Of course. What else would I wear, wait, don’t answer that.” I waved my hands in the direction of the monitor. Jack has a dirty mind and I’m a married woman. “A reader wanted to ask if you know that you have a good heart.”
“Straight to the quick?” He took another drink and then stood, his agitation obvious with his pacing.
“Some of the readers feel that you’re a bit soft.” I was baiting him a bit.
His smoke changed colors, light gray to a reddish black. He seethed.
“I’m Satan. Of course I’m hard.”
He took a quick second to motion to his crotch. I rolled my eyes.
He paced through his innuendo. “I’ve been doing this particular job for 1,000 years. You don’t get to the top of this heap without having a heart as black as night. Tell your readers I’m not a light, fluffy unicorn.”
“They’re your readers too.” I leaned closer to the screen, he was getting harder to see. I could barely make out his tattoos.
“Then they should share my anger. I’m…unsettled.” He tossed his half empty bottle of rum. The noise of the shattering glass rattled the speakers on my computer.
“I told you, I’ve finished a nice chunk of your next book.”
The lights in my house were dim, the sun outside was covered by a particularly large cloud. The ominous setting moved in as Jack’s smile settled on his face while he sat in his chair again. “So is there a lot of sex in the book so far?”
“Not yet, there is a war to be fought. It can’t always be about what you keep in your pants.” It seemed the screen of my iMac was rippling like water.
He crossed his arms and gazed at me with his most flirtatious look.
“That doesn’t work on me you know.” I sat back in my chair.
While looking at his face, he leaned forward, so close to the screen that it moved with him. He pushed his hand into my world, into my kitchen.
I was too shocked to move as Satan’s hand gently touched my cheek. “You want to play games, you think this is about your book. But to me? This is all about her. I need angel Emma safe. I have to find her. Do you understand that we can’t waste any more time?”
Goosebumps littered my skin, his hand was so very hot. His eyes were reflecting bits of my kitchen.
I patted his scorching fingers. “I know you. I know that the wait is killing you. All I can say is that your patience will be rewarded.”
He pulled his hand back into the screen. The monitor snapped back from a flowing puddle into a hard electronic.
“Just make sure she’s rewarded. I don’t give a rat’s ass about me. Tell your readers I’m not soft, I just like my women safe.”
With that he pushed away from his chair, lighting another cigarette as the smoke that acted as his pet crowded into the spot he vacated, hungry to be where he was.
With our Skype session over, I knew he was right. I had to work harder, work faster.
So with that I’m off to write a bit more to get Jack where he needs to be. In the meantime, I’m happy to announce that people in the comments will have a chance to get to know Jack better through an eBook copy of Crushed Seraphim!
Where to get more information about Jack and Crushed Seraphim:
I hope every is doing well. I have two winners to announce but first I want to thank Michelle Franklin for sharing the amazing excerpt and artwork. See the original post HERE.
My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody’s head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.
But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I’m determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why – especially since I should have been the one who died...
My Review:
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Warriors...Greeks, Romans, Valkyrie, Spartans and one Gypsy. The premise for Touch of Frost grabbed me and the story line kept me reading.
Gwen is a quiet and easy going girl. She's also the newest student at Mythos Academy after having gone through personal struggles but luckily she has her grandmother's good cooking to comfort and a mystery to solve. As a murder is committed and an important artifact stolen, Gwen takes it upon herself to find out what happened and bring a victim some justice. Of course, with magic and motivation Gwen has her hands full.
I enjoyed Gwen's character and her relationship with those around her. Gwen doesn't have many friends to start with but as she moves forward she begins to make some interesting connections. One connection (with a Spartan) in particular piques my interest. Logan Quinn's actions gave me much to ponder and look forward to as the series continues. Fantastic new YA book to add to our shelves.
Stan Markowski is a Detective Sergeant on the Scranton PD's Supernatural Crimes Investigation Unit.
Like the rest of America, Scranton's got an uneasy 'live and let unlive' relationship with the supernatural. But when a vamp puts the bite on an unwilling victim, or some witch casts the wrong kind of spell, that's when they call Markowski. He carries a badge. Also, a crucifix, some wooden stakes, a big vial of holy water, and a 9mm Beretta loaded with silver bullets.
File Under: Urban Fantasy [ Dial V For Vampire | Forbidden Spells | Bite Club | Scranton By Night ]
Jen's Review: Rating: 4 of 5 stars
This review can be found through Jen's networks as well..
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of this book - the book comes out Tuesday July 26th :) go get it :) It's Great!
Its a real honest to goodness Detective story! When I first got this book in the mail, one look at the cover and the voice of Dan Aykroyd from Dragnet (1987) popped in my head - and THAT is the voice of Stan :)
This book is awesome! It starts off explaining the way the Supernatural’s (Supes) came to be known to the world (when Vamps and Weres came home from WW II ) and now living in an everyday life with the rest of us plain old humans .
Stan Markowski is a human - and he's a Detective - but he keeps the peace between the Supes.
The book starts off with Stan and his partner going into a local liquor store - nothing strange, just a couple of goblins hyped up on Meth with 2 hostages trying to rob the place.
*note* these Goblins are really cute :) Little green furry guys who speak very little English - so hearing Stan speak like Tarzan is really funny :)
Everything seems to be going well, until they notice the third goblin that was hiding from them...
A few weeks later, Stan and his new partner Renfer... Karl Renfer (He's a big James bond Fan :) Anyways - they get a call and head out to an old abandoned warehouse - Karl stays in the car while Stan checks it out - inside he finds 13 witches calling forth a demon - which is considered black magic - and black magic is illegal. SO when Stan jumps in to interrupt, things get a little crazy.
A few months later ... they get a call to a Supe's house - where they find a man tied to a chair after he was tortured to death. At first they didn't understand why they were called out - looked like a normal human's death - something for the police to get involved in, only this guy had a mark of a wizard on his wrist - which meant the crime was for them to get involved in.
For 5 full nights - Stan and Karl came up empty handed with no leads as to why this Wizard was tortured - and what was stolen out of his safe (They left the money, so obviously something of more value was in the safe)
Stan finally had about all he could handle and decided to call in a favor. Rachel Proctor is a witch - and she knows how to perform Necromancy - Only Necromancy is black magic, and she just doesn't do that stuff. But with the court's ok - making it Police business, it turns into Grey Magic - black magic used for good.
Against all of Rachel's better instincts, she agrees to it.
It takes her a full day of non-stop preparations for this type of thing. When She and Stan get to the graveyard to set up, everything was going perfect... Until something goes wrong.. very very VERY Wrong…
The plot thickens when we find out what was stolen out of the safe and Stan and Karl are forced to work with Vollman "The Man" of Vampires who happens to be a Wizard as well. He knows a lot of things that is going on. and when the strange and bazaar killings start to accrue, Vollman starts keeping little important things to himself. So Stan decides to broaden his search and find information himself. He has a lot of good contacts :)
It was a lot of fun reading this book :)
For the record, this isn't a romance book - Rachel was just a friend, and he has a couple of other female friends in the book, too but nothing but a few flirtation remarks accure. and I Love Stan's Humor - He's got a LOT of funny come backs (in his mind)
All and all this is a great book :) Glad I got the chance to read it :)
Chubby Teddy, who is ironically enough a bear shifter, has finally found her mate. There’s one big problem though. He doesn’t like what he sees.
Reece never imagined his chosen mate would be a woman with extra curves, but all it takes is one taste to realize the benefits and turn his world upside down.
Their arguments are many, their lust for each other fiery, but while he’s ready to for the next step, Teddy keeps running. What will it take to win her trust and heart?
And an even better question; will they ever make it to a bed?
My Review:
My Rating: 5 Stars
Curvy woman need love too.
Eve Langlais does it again. His Teddy Bear is sweet and sensual to the core. All Teddy wants is to know that her mate loves her and not just feeling the mating frenzy. No wham-bam-thank-you-mam for her.
Teddy's a werebear and Reece's a werewolf. Both are caught unexpected when they find one another at a shifter mixer at some bar. Although each is not who the other thought they'd be fated with here they are. Reece proves to be quite a gentlemen as he courts Teddy and shows that he wants to stick around. Teddy is super sweet as she slowly lets her walls down. I thoroughly enjoyed the chase. Teddy gets spooked, she runs then Reece goes chasing. Let me say... I love all the wicked things Reece says and does. And I thoroughly love the cat and mouse games.
Teaser: "...might I say, your bear has a very naughty wiggle.”
All in all, this story is for the sizzling romance lovers who love a happy ending.
In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one…except the "thing" inside her.
When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch….
Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.
Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help—and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.
But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on—even if it seems no one believes her.
This book is July's Book Bloggers Anonymous (BBA) read!
Jen's Review: Rating: 4 of 5 stars
This review can be found through Jen's networks as well..
This book was cute! Loved the story line - I'm not a huge fan of Steampunk books, though. I have read a couple, and they've turned out really well, but it's just not my favorite genre -
BUT, as I said, this book was cute. I'll probably follow the series when more come out. Just because I like a good drawn out romance :)
Finley is a girl with a bit of a temper. Seems every time she gets afraid or upset - another part of her personality comes out and scares her - a LOT!
The book starts out with her working as a Lady's maid, and just as she is about to retire to bed, Lord Felix takes advances at her. She is terrified of his drunken state and has heard he likes to hurt young women. So the only thing she could think of was to let her anger out and beat him up before he can hurt her any worse than a split lip and a bruised face. Luckily she heals quickly :)
She runs out of the house (knowing she'd be fired as soon as Lord Felix woke up anyways).
That's where she runs into Griffin and Sam - Literally - she runs right into them as they're driving through the Park on their cycles (motorcycle type bikes)
Sam is a little worried about bringing this girl to their home, but Griffin - The Duke - as a feeling this girl needs to be brought into their lives, and his instincts are never wrong.
Emily is a girl living there too - she is a smart girl. Completely in love with the science - She is very good with her hands and has made some healing slave to help speed up the process of Finley's cuts and bruises from being hit from the cycle.
When Finley wakes up - she is afraid of the strange surroundings and her "other" personality takes over. She lashes out at the maids and the footman goes flying through the door - luckly Griffen was there to catch the poor man before he could get hurt.
That's when we find out about the powers Griffin has over the Aetheric world (spirit world) and is able to manipulate Finley's aura so she's not frightened anymore - he promises that she is safe and he wouldn't turn her into the Peelers (cops) just as she passes out of exhaustion.
We learn about Sam - he is a big guy, very strong and even more so now that Emily saved his life - he was attacked by a machine and it killed him. but Emily would do everything she could to save him.
When she placed the Organites (not sure how to describe what this is- but the book does a good job of it :) in his body, which turns the more than broken parts of him into metal. It heals him and brings him back to life - and he is stronger and heals faster than ever before.
Sam isn't happy about being part metal , he has a lot of grief in him and he takes it out on everyone. But he especially doesn't trust Finely. And he has a good reason not to :)
This book was very interesting. It had a LOT of details about these strange contraptions - It was pretty cool :)
The love triangle - there were a couple of those - first the attraction between Finley and Griffin is great! Only she doesn't feel she is worth of the love of a Duke - Then we meet Jack Dandy - he is a very scary criminal who fancy's Finley's alter Ego - the scary side - Finley has an attraction to him as well - Maybe in the next book we'll find out who she kisses first :)
Then there is the love triangle between Emily, Sam and Jack - Jack is one of Griffin’s American friends who has come to England to help Griffin. He becomes one of the gang with his super speed. And his flirty charm finds himself smitten with Emily... which really makes Sam jealous.
The ending of the book sets does a really good job at setting up the next book - I will be looking for that one when it comes out:) I am anxious to find out more about this group of "super beings" and find out more about their special powers that keeps evolving :)
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