Review- Arcana: The Maiden by Catherine Stovall

Title- Arcana: The Maiden
Author- Catherine Stovall
Genre- Paranormal (Magical)
Release Date- 8th of October 2013
Publisher- Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly
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Review copy provided by the author.

Blurb- The High Priestess and her consort, the Magician, have stripped away all vestiges of technology and cast the world of Wade into a magical dark age. In order to further their aims of domination, the evil pair murders sixteen-year-old Bianca’s family and captures her, intending to use her ethereal blood to wake a powerful spirit and rule the universe.

Three years later, Bianca breaks the sacred circle and allows an outside force to free her from her imprisonment in an evil place that the people of Wade call The Tower. When she wakes in the rebel encampment, Bianca finds herself faced with the boy she had thought dead and the Hierophant, who offers her something no one else has—a choice about her own destiny.

Driven by a want to help the rebel forces and the need to be close to Jonathan, Bianca makes a courageous decision, with a little guidance from the true Goddess, and vows to end the High Priestess’ rule over Wade. Developing from a helpless captive to a strong leader, her only distraction is forcing Jonathan to choose between her and Angel, the sex-kitten daughter of a visiting coven leader. Unfortunately, it is a hard lesson learned when the devil plays her for a fool, and her distrust in her own magic allows a traitor to make the Hanged Man Coven vulnerable.

Jonathan’s betrayal and the death of one of their own, sends Bianca fleeing from the hardships of her new life. Following the path of the Goddess, she learns the secret of the Wheel of Life and gains a valuable tool from the Hermit that reveals more than she had feared. With no choice left but to fight, Bianca and her people march into battle against the High Priestess’ forces. The journey is far from easy and proves that even the descendant of a Goddess can falter. On the verge of greatness or failure, Bianca must face down her darkest fears or die.

3 Sassy Books!

Review- Catherine Stovall has done it again with her originality and creativity. She has a wonderful imagination. But while I enjoyed the concept of the storyline, I at times found myself lost throughout the book.  Bianca would at times go off on tangents and I would lose where I was within the story.

I also got a little frustrated with Bianca. It was a constant battle with how she feels then feeling bad for those feelings. I am a big believer in how you feel is how you feel and you shouldn't be made feel bad for that.

Apart from that, Arcana: The Maiden was an enjoyable read about good vs evil in a world where magic reins and staying true to yourself especially during dark times.

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Happy Reading!

 

**BOOK BLITZ** White Hart by Sarah Dalton

 

 

White Hart

(White Hart, #1)

by Sarah Dalton
Publication date: March 5th 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Mae never asked to be craft-born. She never wanted that burden.

The realm needs magic again, and the the King of Aegunlund has been waiting for the first craft-born girl to marry his son, Prince Casimir.

In Mae’s town of Halts-Walden, the ambitious miller claims his daughter Ellen is craft-born. Mae knows this is a load of hogwash, but she’s glad Ellen will have the unfortunate pleasure of becoming queen instead of her. All she has to do is sit back and wait until Casimir and Ellen are married, then she will finally be free of the threat of her fate. But on that day an event so shocking and terrible occurs that Mae finds herself entering the neighbouring cursed forest on a quest she never thought she’d have to follow.

Join Mae as she rides her white stag through the Waerg Woods with a pampered prince at her heels. She’s out for revenge and nothing, no one, will get in her way.

 

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**BOOK BLITZ** Make Me: Twelve Tales of Dark Desire

 

 

 

Make Me: Twelve Tales of Dark Desire
Boxed Set
(The Dark Duet, #1)
Publication date: March 3rd 2014
Genres: Romance

 

 

Take a trip to the dark side with 12 books by some of the hottest names in edgy romance, including USA Today Bestselling authors CJ Roberts, Eliza Gayle, and Aleatha Romig!

Pam Godwin – Beneath the Burn
Skye Warren – Wanderlust
Claire Thompson – Enslaved
Cari Silverwood – Take Me Break Me
Annabel Joseph – Comfort Object
Aleatha Romig – Consequences
Shoshanna Evers – The Man Who Holds the Whip
Annika Martin – The Hostage Bargain
Jasmine Haynes – Take Your Pleasure
Eliza Gayle – Play With Me
Pepper Winters – Tears of Tess
CJ Roberts – Captive in the Dark

These e-books would cost over $40 if purchased separately. This set will only be available for a limited time, so order your copy now!
All of these books are 18+, some are new adult romance, some are erotic romance, but all feature dark themes.

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Purchase

 

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About the Authors

 

Thank you for considering MAKE ME: Twelve tales of dark desire. We hope you enjoy your trip! Please check out the contributing authors to find out more about their books and upcoming events.

 

Aleatha Romig - Consequences

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Skye Warren - Wanderlust

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Eliza Gayle - Play With Me

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Cari Silverwood - Take Me, Break Me

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Jasmine Haynes - Take Your Pleasure

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Pam Godwin – Beneath the Burn

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Annabel Joseph – Comfort Object

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Claire Thompson – Enslaved

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Annika Martin – The Hostage Bargain

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Shoshanna Evers – The Man Who Holds the Whip

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Pepper Winters – Tears of Tess

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CJ Roberts – Captive in the Dark

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Guest Post with Annabel Joseph

 

 

Bad Boys, and Why We Love Them

My name is Annabel Joseph, and I’m a bad boy addict.

I know it’s wrong. I know they’re bad for me, but I can’t quit ’em. It’s probably because my first book boyfriend was Leo Kovalensky in Rand’s We The Living. (Yeah, I grew up in a weird home. But I digress.)

I remember getting into it with some authors on a romance chat board about how heroes “should be.” Kind, protective, responsible, loving, romantic. I raised my digital hand and said, “I like heroes who are mean sometimes.”

Jaws dropped, tongues lashed, lectures ensued. “Romance heroes can’t be bad, Annabel! They have to be heroic or you’re doing it WRONG.” I backed out of that argument because I wasn’t going to convince any of them otherwise, but in my heart I knew there was a place for bad boys in romance. I knew because I’d written a bunch of them, and those books (and bad boys) were the ones my readers talked about the most.

I can’t explain the Bad Boy mystique, I just know there’s something about a man who’s not perfect, who’s rough around the edges, who doesn’t always know the right thing to do or say. There’s something about watching a bad boy dig himself deeper into trouble with the heroine, and then seeing him realize that, bad as he is, love is badder and stronger than any of his faults.

I suppose that’s the key to it all. Love always prevails.

If the hero’s perfect and love prevails, yeah, sure, it’s sweet, but what else was going to happen? He’s perfect, for God’s sake. But when a bad boy finds love…well, that’s something special. There’s extra effort, a pressing need for redemption that makes my heart ache and worry, and then swell with joy when the bad boy finds his way to his Perfect Girl, the one who understands and accepts him, flaws and all.

The hero of my book, Jeremy Gray, is a Bad Boy Extraordinaire: selfish, haughty, demanding, sexually deviant. But he’s one other thing too…a damaged, scared man who really just wants love. I hope you’ll order MAKE ME: Twelve Tales of Dark Desire to meet my bad boy Jeremy, and many other bad boys who’ll make your heart ache and swell. As well as some other parts, hopefully. Thanks for reading!



 

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Review- Stranded in Paradise

Title- Stranded in Paradise
Author- Sarah O'Rourke
Genre- Adult Fiction
Release Date- 18th of October 2013
GOODREADS

Review copy provided by author.

Blurb- Ethan Hudson is a man accustomed to being in control...of all situations in his life. Yet, much to his dismay, he finds himself at the mercy of cancelled flights that are determined to mess with his well-ordered plans. Added on to this dilemma is his unexplained attraction for his male colleague...

David Malloy believes in going after what he wants...and fate appears to have given him the golden opportunity to make his move. His desire for Ethan has been brewing for months, and now is the time to let the other man know exactly how he feels.

Stranded in Paradise is an erotic romp through anticipation, discovery, and excitement. With a strong m/m focus, hang on tightly because there is a surprise menage a trois ending that you don't want to miss! 

 4 Sassy Books!



Review- HEADS UP- If you are not open to man on man action then this is not the book for you. 

So this is the first ever adult book that I have read that has been man on man and even though it's not anything I am into or would usually read, as an overall story it was pretty good. 

We start off with Ethan and his colleague David with their delayed flight resulting in them having to spend the night in a nearby hotel. With an unspoken attraction already forming between them, what happens while they are stranded is sure to get pulses racing.

Sarah O'Rourke does not disappoint with the easy to follow storyline and well descriptive intimate scenes that leave nothing to the imagination. So if you're looking for a quick read that's daring, sexually intense and heated, and you don't mind some same sex action then this one is perfect for you.

And while it won't be to everyone's taste, including mine, all readers should be able to put the stereotyping aside and praise Sarah for her talented writing skills.

To purchase your copy of Stranded in Paradise check out these links:

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HAPPY READING!

**BOOK NERD BLAST** Mistress of Fortune by Holly West

 

 

 

Mistress of Fortune

By Holly West

 

 

London, 1678

Isabel, Lady Wilde, a mistress to King Charles II, has a secret: she makes her living disguised as Mistress Ruby, a fortune-teller who caters to London’s elite. It’s a dangerous life among the charlatans, rogues and swindlers who lurk in the city’s dark corners, but to Isabel, the risk is worth the reward.

Until magistrate Sir Edmund Godfrey seeks Mistress Ruby’s counsel and reveals his unwitting involvement in a plot to kill the king. When Isabel’s diary containing dangerous details of his confession is stolen, she knows she must find it before anyone connects her to Mistress Ruby. Especially after Sir Edmund’s corpse is discovered a few days later…

Isabel is sure that whoever stole her diary is Sir Edmund’s killer–and could be part of a conspiracy that leads all the way to the throne. But as she delves deeper into the mystery, not even the king himself may be able to save her.

 

 

You can purchase Mistress of Fortune at the following Retailers:

 

 

 

About Holly West   Holly West writes the Mistress of Fortune series, featuring amateur sleuth Isabel Wilde, a mistress to King Charles II who secretly makes her living as a fortuneteller. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Mick, and dog, Stella. More info at hollywest.com.

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Review- Haunting Lia by Shannon Eckrich

Title- Haunting Lia
Author- Shannon Eckrich
Genre- YA Paranormal
Release Date- 11th of October 2013
Publisher- Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly
GOODREADS

Review copy provided by author.

Blurb- Death is her destiny. But she has other things in mind.

Lia Starr’s life isn’t a fairytale. It’s a reality overflowing with scary monsters, death, and betrayal—a past she left behind when she entered her new foster home. Now, with a loving family, a sister she’s always craved, and relief from the gruesome corpses that tormented her as a child, she’s finally content. Until a freak accident changes everything.

The monsters are back, and their mission is simple: drag Lia straight to their murky hell. When Aiden, an apparition, appears to Lia, she has hope once again. Because Aiden can cross the veil between the spirit world and the earthly dimension, physically fighting off the monsters and sending them back. With Aiden’s determination to keep her safe and his absorbing blue eyes, Lia can’t help falling in love with him. But who is he, and what does he really want? As Lia and Aiden’s relationship deepens, so does the mystery surrounding him.

Once Lia finds out Aiden has traded his soul to save her, she enters the darker dimension, a dimension where nightmares are reality, ready to kick some serious butt. But surrounded by twenty-eight mutilated monsters and a deranged cult leader intent on bringing his dark world to the surface, isn’t what Lia expects. And even worse, she must face her traumatic past in order to destroy them. If she fails, not only will she lose the guy she loves and face certain death, but she will also risk the one thing she can’t afford to lose: her eternal soul.

 4 Sassy Books!

Review- With such a heavily detailed blurb, I don't really have to go into the storyline at all. It pretty much covers it. However what it doesn't cover is how Haunting Lia will absorb and engross you.

To put it bluntly, the prologue scared the crap out of me. I don't do well with creepy, ghostly subjects at the best of times let alone in a well descriptive book, but the fact that it created a reaction from me says a lot. In a good way. The rest of the book was just as good. Scarey, twisted, dark and creepy as well as touching, emotional and romantic. All of this mixed with a well thought out original and creative storyline, and Shannon Eckrich has delivered a thoroughly enjoyable and addictive read. 

I highly recommend this to any paranormal lover out there or anyone who is thinking of delving into this genre.

To grab your copy of Haunting Lia check out the following links:

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Happy Reading!

Review- Love Reawakened by Shelli Rosewarne

Title- Love Reawakened
Author- Shelli Rosewarne
Genre- Paranormal Romance
Release Date- 11th of October 2013
Publisher- Breathless Press
GOODREADS

Review copy provided by author.

Blurb- Emma needs to find an escaped zombie! With lives on the line, the only person who can help is the man who broke her heart.

Emma Strachan is a professional witch and quite frankly a zombie raising should be all in day's work. Now, though, something has gone horribly wrong and with lives on the line Emma is forced to turn for help to the one person she never wanted to see again.

When Emma shows up on Garret's doorstep he knows she must be in trouble-after all nothing else would bring her to his door. Still, he never imagined a zombie gone rogue, or that the blazing attraction between them would be as strong as ever.

As Emma and Garret risk their lives to track down the missing zombie can they put aside past insecurities and trust in each other-before it's too late.

2 Sassy Books!

Review- While I commend the creativity that went into the concept of this story, I found that it lacked excitement and depth and was quite jumpy in places. I also found it a little hard to get into so I couldn't thoroughly enjoy it. It seemed rushed. I think if a little more time went into each scenario and have them developed properly it would would have been a really enjoyable read.

As I said, the creativity and originality is there, the delivery needs a bit of work.

Love Reawakened is available to purchase on

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