Sunday, 16 January 2022

BOOK REVIEW - The Silents: An Everhaven Novella by Elizabeth J. Rekab

The Silents: An Everhaven Novella

Author: Elizabeth J. Rekab

Genre: NA Dystopian Romance / Coming of Age / Fantasy / Mystery
Publication Date: 1 February 2021

Book Description:

In a town beholden to a mysterious deity, only the Silent can hear the truth...

19-year-old Kat Jones is about to be forced into an arranged marriage with the awful Peter Ellis. Kat doesn't love Peter though; she loves her boyfriend, Adam Ashby, and dreams of running away with him. But that's not possible; the magic around Everhaven physically prevents any resident from crossing its border into the Outside world. However, there is one place in town where she and Adam can go to avoid arranged marriages: The Silence. They're a group of the most devout citizens who pledge their lives to the Provider, the deity responsible for Everhaven's good fortune and the magic surrounding the town.

Out of options, Kat and Adam enlist. At first, they believe they've found a loophole to stay together. But as the day-to-day dealings of the Silence grow increasingly unsettling, Kat realizes she may have just walked into a situation even worse than marrying Peter. A situation with grave consequences that could very well spell death... or worse.

The Silents is a prequel novella set 35 years prior to the events in Everhaven.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

MY REVIEW

I haven't read the other books in the series, but I found this to be a good prequel. It has certainly left me intrigued. We're introduced to Kat Jones who is being forced into an arranged marriage to Peter Ellis, a man she has no affections towards while being taken away from her boyfriend, Adam Ashby, who she actually loves. Feeling pressured by her parents and the community of Everhaven to live a life of misery, Kat and Adam are forced to flee Everhaven and join The Silence, a community of devout worshippers of the Provider who are outside the jurisdiction of Everhaven. Kat and Adam choose to serve the Provider as one his His chosen. However, very quickly, Kat and Adam discover that things are not as they appear in The Silence and Kat realises that she might have chosen a fate far worse than what Everhaven had offered her.

This was an enjoyable story with a lot of life lessons to be learned. Both Kat and Adam were relatable characters and likeable. They faced one dilemma after another, and it was, for the most part an enjoyable journey. I found their romance believable. The fact that they were willing to risk everything for each other showed their loyalty for each other. I also liked that their relationship wasn't without its flaws and difficulties. There were things about Adam that Kat didn't know about (specifically the incident with his father), which surprised her as she thought they knew everything about each other, but instead of reprimanding him for keeping things from her, she tried to understand his position and how difficult it was for him to reveal everything about himself, especially things that made him feel weak and ashamed. It's little things like these moments that highlighted their strong bond and make you able to anticipate their reactions in any given situation. There are a lot of things these characters had in common but the will to escape, to be free and safe, was at the top of that list. The fact that they weren't just running away for each other but for a stronger purpose gave a sense of authenticity to their bond and relationship. I can't say I favoured one character over the other as nothing particularly stood out that made me like one over the other.

I must admit, I wasn't as excited as I had anticipated to be. I really liked the characters, but I wasn't as excited about the plot. It didn't come across as fantasy, except for the debacle with the souls that Kat stumbled upon. I would have liked to get a better sense of the fantasy element as it didn't feel as though I was reading a fantasy book. I got a somewhat mystery vibe in the sense that there were things about The Silence I wanted to know about, but there weren't many puzzles to solve, which given the things said about The Silence I thought there would be something for me to solve. I was expecting it be scary. I don't know if it's the cover that gave me that impression or the blurb, but I anticipated some terrifying moments, but it was very PG-13, which made it feel more like YA fiction instead of NA fiction.

I didn't like the POV switch towards the ending of the book. I found it a little disorienting and somewhat anticlimactic, especially with Dean's introduction. I thought it could have been better executed as it didn't really add much progress in the way of the plot.

Overall, it was a good read that made me curious about the series.

VERDICT:

Rating: 3 Star

Source: StoryOrigin

Saturday, 15 January 2022

Book Blitz & Giveaway - Wine Country King by Claire Marti

Wine Country King

(California Suits, #2)

Author: Claire Marti

Publication Date: January 13th, 2022

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Book Description:

A cocky, charming real estate attorney.

A brilliant, gorgeous sommelier.

Neither has time for romance.

One mind-blowing kiss changes everything.

Jack Cassidy heads the team opening the next in an exclusive line of boutique hotels, this one in wine country. Working with his best friend’s sister should make it easier, tapping into her expertise about the area and its wines. The pair have been friends for years, so sharing an apartment shouldn’t pose any issues… except for the simmering heat building between them.

Campbell Taylor’s one of only a handful of women to battle the all-boys club and go for the title of master sommelier. She didn’t rise to her position by being a pushover, but living and working with her brother’s best friend – the man she’s secretly crushed on for years – might prove to be her greatest challenge. How can she get him to see her as more than Cameron’s little sister? And will their undeniable attraction derail her dreams?

Buy Links:

Cover Reveal - Redemption's Edge by Alyssa Day

Redemption’s Edge

(Vampire Motorcycle Club, #3)

Author: Alyssa Day

Published by: Entangled: Amara

Publication Date: November 22nd, 2022

Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance

Book Description:

The sexy conclusion to the series readers are calling “Vampire Diaries for grown-ups” from New York Times bestselling author Alyssa Day.

About the Author

Alyssa Day is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with more than a million books sold --all filled with kissing, laughter, mystery and magic. Alyssa’s paranormal series include the Vampire Motorcycle Club, Poseidon’s Warriors, and Cardinal Witches paranormal romances and the Tiger’s Eye Mysteries paranormal mysteries. In an Alyssa Day book, the good guys (and gals!) always win and happily ever after always prevails!

Alyssa's many awards include Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® award for outstanding romance fiction, and the RT Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Paranormal Romance novel of 2012. Her books have been translated into a zillion languages but she’s still holding out for Klingon.

Before she became a full-time writer, Alyssa graduated summa cum laude from law school and practiced as a trial lawyer in three different states for more than a decade. She is a past president of Romance Writers of America.

Please visit her online at http://www.alyssaday.com to sign up for her newsletter for news of releases, free stuff, and pictures of her dogs and her baking. But not of her dogs baking, because that would just be wrong.

Author Links:

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Tuesday, 11 January 2022

Book Blitz & Giveaway - Shopping for a Highlander by Julia Kent

Shopping for a Highlander

(Shopping for a Billionaire, #18)

Author: Julia Kent

Publication Date: January 11th, 2022

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Book Description:

I’m a professional chickenblocker.

Except “chicken” is a euphemism.

I get paid to follow a womanizing troglodyte who thinks rules are for other people and that my pants are the next pair he’s getting into.

Dream on.

Bet your first professional job didn’t involve babysitting an extremely hot, muscle-bound Scottish Highlander with an ego the size of a kilt and a libido bigger than his…well…

Chicken.

Keeping Scottish football (that’s ‘soccer” to us Americans) player Hamish McCormick away from inappropriate scandals while he does product endorsement campaigns is my mission.

No problem.

Until Hamish decides I’m his next scandal.

And maybe more….

Shopping for a Highlander is an enemies-to-lovers, slow burn romance that opens with a surprise kiss and ends with a happily ever after. This sports comedy in the New York Times bestselling Shopping for a Billionaire world contains no actual chickens, but it has plenty of locker room scenes, a fake relationship, very real banter, and more. You do not have to have read the previous books in this world, though after you read about Amy and Hamish, you’ll want to.

Buy Links:

Book Blitz & Giveaway - Sidetracked by Lauren Alsten

Sidetracked

Author: Lauren Alsten

Published by: Changeling Press

Publication Date: December 31st, 2021

Genre: Adult Comedy / Contemporary Romance

Book Description:

Librarian Allison Callahan, aka “Encyclopedia Allie,” has always loved her steadfast and dependable best friend Dane. She’s just never admitted it to anyone, including herself. But Dane keeps trying to kiss her, and it’s changing their relationship status from friend-zone to danger-zone. Sure, Allie wants more, but what if Dane finds out she likes her hanky panky with a side of spanky?

He’ll freak, that’s what. So she rebuffs his advances, tries to shake things up… and unbeknownst to him, discovers one of his best-kept secrets.

Meanwhile, Dane is so frustrated he fantasizes about taking Allie over his lap. A good spanking would serve her right for refusing to acknowledge what they both already know: they’re perfect for each other. But he’s so busy trying to make partner at his law firm, he doesn’t notice something’s a bit off about his bestie.

Between the shock of the secret she never knew and her lukewarm launching of the library’s virtual book club, Allie’s ready to let loose. At her and Dane’s high school reunion, it’s clear they’re ready to take the next step, but after a red-hot night of lust and love, will the next morning’s Walk of Shame ruin everything?

Buy Links:

Books2Read

Cover Reveal - The Cassandra Curse by Hope Bolinger

The Cassandra Curse

Author: Hope Bolinger

Publication Date: February 1st, 2021

Genre: Middle-Grade / Young Adult

Book Description:

STRANGER THINGS X CURSED PRINCESS CLUB

Charity’s acts of kindness always end in disaster, but when one clown costume too many lands her in the Vice Principal’s office, she receives a mysterious note from a group called “The Cassandra Coalition,” asking her if she wants to be rid of the curse that seems to follow her.

The teens of the coalition claim to be cursed by a mirror world connected with their hometown known as Delphos. To make things worse, Delphos appears to be invading their world and turning people into zombies—either that, or someone switched all the coffee to decaf.

When one of their members goes missing, they’ll try to track her down, close the portal to their world, and find a way to end their curse, before the curse ends them.

Pre-Order Links:

Amazon US | UK

About the Author

Hope Bolinger is literary agent, freelance author and editor, YA novelist, and obsessed with anything to do with theater.

Books include The Quiet and the Storm (Taylor University Press), Blaze (IlluminateYA), Den (IlluminateYA), Dear Hero (INtense Publications), and Dear Henchman (INtense Publications). She's also contributed to books that were published by Broadstreet Publishing and New Hope.

When she isn't busy adding to her 600+ bylines, or showing up in her town square dressed as Red Riding Hood, she loves to connect with readers. Find her at hopebolinger.com or connect with her @hopebolinger

Author Links:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Saturday, 1 January 2022

January Group Promo - FREE & Discounted eBooks

Welcome!

Check out all the free and discounted ebooks and giveaways on offer below. Sharing is caring. I truly appreciate your support.

Happy New Year!

FREE & DISCOUNTED EBOOKS

DOWNLOAD NOW

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My Top 10 Most Anticipated Books and Movies of 2022

Happy New Year To You All!

Well, not much has progressed in terms of the covid pandemic, but let's hope this year brings more order and control back to our lives. To kick off this year, check out my most anticipated books and movies for 2022.

WHICH BOOKS AND MOVIES ARE ON YOUR WISH LIST THIS YEAR?

My Top 10 Most Anticipated Books
Of 2022 Are: