Book Blitz & Giveaway - Zealot by C. Vonzale Lewis

Zealot

(Blood and Sacrifice Chronicles, #2)

Author: C. Vonzale Lewis

Published by: Parliament House

Publication Date: March 22nd, 2022

Genre: Adult Fantasy

Book Description:

Nicole Fontane thought her demons were buried deep enough. She was wrong.

After barely escaping the blood bath of the Harvest ritual, Nicole and her vigilante compatriots learn that there are others practicing blood magick on Tulare Island.

Hired to rid the island of the remaining blood magick users, Nicole and her allies come face to face with The Better Day Church and the mysterious Young Family, whose nefarious behavior is well known on the island. The murky organization stirs old memories of a cult buried deep in the Louisiana bayou—flickers of Nicole’s traumatic past and the altar she barely escaped.

But when Nicole receives an invitation to the Young family’s private residence to attend a secret meeting with The Daughters of the Vine—an elusive sect of women led by Gavina Young—she knows there is no escaping her fraught history with cults.

The invite is clearly a trap, but it’s also an opportunity to take down the church. Nicole soon learns that the sickness lurking behind the walls of the Young family’s manor runs far deeper than the banal allure of blood magick. The church’s matriarch harbors a predatory interest in Nicole’s power—barely disguising her desire to harness it.

Nicole must unravel the mysteries of her newfound abilities, or her first job may be her last. Worst of all, she may end up on the altar again.

Buy Links:

Amazon US | UK

BOOK REVIEW: The Traitor's Son (Path of the Ranger #1) by Pedro Urvi

The Traitor's Son

Series: Path of the Ranger, Book 1

Author: Pedro Urvi

Genre: YA Fantasy / Adventure

Publication Date: 26th September 2019

Book Description:

A kingdom in danger, a great betrayal, a boy seeking to redeem his father's honor. Will he succeed in exonerating him and saving the realm from an enemy in the shadows before it is too late for the whole North?

By the age of fifteen, Lasgol has endured a hard childhood and lives, cornered and hated, in a small village in the North. He is the son of the traitor, the man who betrayed the kingdom and tried to kill the King. His only companions are the mountains and the snow, ever-present in the region. Yet he refuses to believe that his father is guilty, in spite of all the evidence that points to the fact, even though the King himself was a witness to the betrayal.

Lasgol is determined to clear his father's name, and to do this he has only a single option: the School of Rangers, a secret place where the respected and feared defenders of the lands of the kingdom are trained for four years. Going there is insane, hate and death await him. But as the son of a Ranger, he is entitled to attend.

At the Camp he will find himself involved in political intrigues, disloyalties and murder. He will encounter hatred and fearsome enemies, but also a handful of friends, novices as much out of place as he is himself, determined to do whatever is necessary to pass the first year... without dying in the attempt.

Will Lasgol survive the first year of instruction at the Rangers' Camp? Will he find out what happened to his father? Will he be able to clear his name?  

Find out while you follow fascinating adventures with a group of characters you will fall in love with.  

The adventure begins right now!

Buy Links:

Amazon US | UK

MY REVIEW

The book cover. That's what gravitated me towards this book. Then I saw the number of reviews, so I decided to read the blurb, which sounded interested. Then I saw that the book was available on prime, so I was sold. I put aside every other book in favour of this one as I had great expectations. I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately, we can't always get what we want.

Some years after the death of his father, who was First Ranger of the Realm of Norghana and branded a traitor for betraying the kingdom and trying to kill the king, fifteen-year-old Lasgol Eklund is living as a servant boy of Ulf, a former soldier of the king's army. Always being reminded that he's the son of a traitor, Lasgol's life hasn't been easy. He's constantly picked on and has no friends. Despite the facts, Lasgol refuses to accept that his father was a traitor. When a stranger comes to the north village and grants Lasgol an opportunity to join the Corps of the Rangers of Norghana, he sees it as his only chance to prove everyone wrong and finally clear his father's name. The only problem is that everyone will know who he is and his life as a recruit would be even less favourable than it has been living with Ulf. With enemies on every corner, he might not even live long enough to accomplish his goal.

WHAT I LIKED

I'm always rooting for the underdog, so I formed an instant liking to Lasgol from the get-go. He's a trier. No matter how hard life gets, he brushes himself off and keeps pushing forward. He's a fighter. I liked his spirit and his determination. No matter what anyone said about his father or what the facts showcased, he knew his father and the person he was and nothing was ever going to change his mind. His father was always innocent in his mind, and he was going to do everything he could to prove it. Lasgol is a likeable character. He's been through a lot, and he still manages to keep his head up. It's hard to dislike a character with such determination and drive. I honestly think it's Lasgol that made me continue reading this book even when I felt like putting it down. I wanted to see how things would turn out in the end.

The world building was lovely. I felt as though I was on the journey with Lasgol. I could picture the surroundings clearly. I liked the descriptive fight scenes also. I got a real Percy Jackson vibe, especially when Lasgol got to Ranger camp.

While the plot was a little simplistic, I liked it for that reason. It was straightforward and to the point. Nothing complicated, just a young lad trying to find his place in the world and giving himself a fighting chance by clearing the misconception everyone has about his father.

Lasgol's misfit group of friends were interesting and entertaining. They were somewhat underdeveloped and at times hard to relate to, but they played a part in making him feel as though he was a part of something. For someone who had no friends prior to joining Ranger camp, it was nice to see him bonding with like-minded individuals who were willing to stand by his side. I like that it wasn't an instant bond between the group and that the Snow Panthers had to go through many challenges and learn to work together to achieve their goal, one of which being to learn how to trust one another.

WHAT I DISLIKED

There were a lot of things that frustrated me as I read along and a lot of the times I contemplated putting the book down, but I'll keep the rant to a minimum. I understand that Lasgol's father was a traitor and because of that people might be untrusting of his son, but it was a little much to have to deal with everyone hating Lasgol merely for the reason that his father was a traitor. No one blamed him for his father's actions, but they used his father's action against him and hated him for what his father did. It would have been nice to have seen a variation of some sort rather than have everyone just hating Lasgol for the same reason. It just became a little predictable and tedious.

It was never really explained why Lasgol believed joining the Rangers would help him clear his father's name. What was the plan? How does joining the Rangers get him any closer to the truth? Honestly, I found Ranger camp went on far too long and didn't accomplish much in the way of Lasgol clearing his father's name since he didn't really do all that much when it came to the events that led to clearing his father's name. There was a lot of training to get through camp that I forgot the reason Lasgol joined Ranger camp in the first place. I'm uncertain as to why Lasgol thought he would be able to uncover the truth, especially when there had been no indication that he had any clues as to what he was dealing with. There wasn't much data collecting or planning conducted prior to Lasgol joining Ranger camp, so he didn't have much to work with. I understood his drive and reason, I just didn't get the means by which he planned to accomplish his mission.

What happened with the egg? I needed a little more to go on with this mysterious object. I get there are other books, but give me something to work with to satisfy my curiosity. Things became repetitive. I lost count of how many times we were told that Lasgol's father was a traitor in the first chapter alone. The cliched bullies was a little underwhelming, but then again, everyone hated Lasgol for the same reason, so it's expected that it would become difficult to differentiate one character from the other.

Okay, I'll stop there. The point is a lot of little things bothered me and made the reading experience not as enjoyable as I would have liked it to have been.

VERDICT

I had a lot of expectations for this one due to the great reviews, and while it was an interesting premise with a likeable character, it was just an okay read for me. I did like it. I just didn't love it.

RATING

Source: Amazon Prime

BOOK REVIEW: Adventures with Scarlet and Twinkle by Janice Ford

Adventures with Scarlet and Twinkle: 5 Happy Short Stories for kids About Scarlet, the Little Girl with a Big Imagination

Author: Janice Ford

Genre: Chapter Book

Publication Date: 15th February 2022

Book Description:

Scarlet was three years old when her parents gave her Twinkle, a pink, dazzling elephant.

She knew they were going to be best friends the minute she held her in her arms.

As young as Scarlet is, she has such a beautiful, wide imagination, which she often let’s run free.

She is also the adventurous kind. There are lots of fun moments of her and her best friend, Twinkle.

They have so much fun going in the treehouse, going to the park together, and everywhere!

Scarlet takes Twinkle with her everywhere she goes.

The two make an incredible, adorable pair, and Scarlet believes she can get through anything with Twinkle by her side. But just like everyone else, Scarlet has some sad days. Enjoy this amazing story of Scarlet and Twinkle, and read about their different adventures!

Take a peak into the life of a three year old and her stuffed doll—learn a lesson or two!

Buy Links:

Amazon US | UK

MY REVIEW

Another fun set of short stories from author Janice Ford that will teach children a handful of helpful life lessons about sharing, friendship, being responsible and making good choices. On this journey, we are introduced to Scarlet and her pink toy elephant, Twinkle, as they venture outside their home to visit the nearby park, climb their treehouse and enjoy many more adventures.

Scarlet is a clever and imaginative child with a curiosity for life. I liked that she sought out her parents for assistance whenever she got stuck on a task. While her parents allowed her to have a semblance of independence, she understood their role and knew when to ask them for help. Although Scarlet is a mature six year old, I was a little concerned by the fact that her parents let her go to the park alone, albeit it was close to their house, stating that she should return home before it got dark. As I said, she's a wise child, but she is still just six years old. It just didn't bode well with me. Apart from that, I liked how the stories unfolded. There were some valuable lessons to be learned.

VERDICT

Scarlet is a very caring and bubbly child, and I loved her little adventures with Twinkle. A very enjoyable read. The book reads as though it is for preschoolers, but given that it's a chapter book with a sufficient amount of text and not many pictures, I would say it would garner attention from kids aged between 5-7 years old.

RATING

Source: Author

Book Blitz & Giveaway - Moon Madness by Sabrina Silvers

Moon Madness

(Dirigo Pack, #2)

Author: Sabrina Silvers

Publication Date: March 19th, 2022

Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance

Book Description:

A wolf on the edge, deadly shifter political games, and an unexpected attraction.

Sloane Wyman is haunted by her past and she’ll let nothing get in the way of her future. She’s vowed to defend her pack as long as there is breath in her lungs.

Benedict MacKinnon can’t trust the beast within. Not since it burst forth and nearly cost him everything. But, when his brother and mate are accused of murder, he’s willing to put everything on the line. Benedict must stand before the Supreme Council in their defense, even if it costs him his life and future.

Lying and scheming enemies eager to see him spiral out of control test his resolve at every turn. Sloane, as his back-up, is more of a hindrance than a help thanks to the unwanted primal attraction that leaves his inner wolf rumbling.

As they become targets in a game they don’t know the rules, and the clock ticks down on their deadline, can they outsmart their enemies? Will they allow themselves to unite via the mate bond? Or will their attempts to save those they love meet a bloody end?

Buy Links:

Amazon US | UK | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

Book Blitz & Giveaway - Hot Girl Summer by Sonia Palermo

Hot Girl Summer

Author: Sonia Palermo

Publication Date: March 14th, 2022

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Book Description:

Sophia DeLuca is over casual hook-ups. Between her sister’s eating disorder, her track record of falling for fuckboys, and a lifetime of being written off as a shallow flake, “failure to launch” may as well be her middle name.

Under false pretences and a fake name, she meets Danny Pearce, an obnoxious musician on the opposite end of the millennial spectrum. Danny is cocky, rude, and a contender for fuckboy of the year.

After a series of serendipitous encounters and a secret gig, Sophia unexpectedly falls for Danny. But when he is faced with his own demons, Sophia must reclaim her power and forgive the past, or risk losing the only thing that’s real.

Buy Links:

Amazon US | UK

Book Blitz & Giveaway - A Warm Rainy Day in Tokyo by Kana Wu

A Warm Rainy Day in Tokyo

Author: Kana Wu

Publication Date: March 31st, 2022

Genre: NA Romance

Book Description:

Bella Bell lives a perfectly ordinary life with a perfectly ordinary office job in suburban California, where she longs to break free from her perfect sister’s shadow. So when Little Bear Café chooses her to train its new franchisee in Tokyo for the summer, she jumps at the chance.

But even a dream come true can get complicated. From the moment she steps on the plane, she annoys her pompous, handsome seatmate, insults her apartment manager, and gets caught up in her new neighbors’ drama. And everywhere she turns, she keeps running into the arrogant stranger from her flight—and she can’t seem to get him out of her head.

Ryo Yamada is at the top of his game: a high-powered job, no shortage of potential girlfriends. But his life is turned upside down when his family asks him to return to Tokyo for good because of his sister’s failing health. And now he finds himself avoiding his childhood friend whose feelings he doesn’t return. And bumping into the irritating, pretty redhead from his flight—who may not be so bad after all. The last thing he expects is to fall in love.

As the new café opening and the end of Bella’s time in Tokyo draw near, Bella and Ryo grow close—until they discover their circumstances may tear them apart. Can they find their way back to each other for good?

Buy Links:

Amazon US | UK | Barnes & Noble

Blog Tour Spotlight - Sparks and Shadow (Rising Elements Book 1)

Everly, a homeless bicycle messenger who can see monsters, finds herself transported to a new world and must join a band of rebels to get home before war breaks out…

By Ceara Nobles

Sparks and Shadow, YA Fantasy, Riverside Press, 246 pp.

Seattle is full of monsters, and I’m the only one who can see them.

I’ve spent the last 17 years (AKA my whole life) pretending I can’t see the monsters who disguise themselves as humans. I may not have a place to live and my best friend may be moments away from getting in too deep with the city’s most dangerous drug lord, but I’m rolling with the status quo.

That is, until I save my arch enemy’s stupid life and find myself in a warehouse full of monsters.

Next thing I know, I’m in Monster Land (AKA not Seattle) and up to my ears in monsters, magic, and inevitable mayhem. If I want to get home, I have to join a band of revolutionaries and stay alive long enough to get back through the portal before war breaks out.

This’ll be a cinch.

Sparks and Shadow is a modern, action-packed YA portal fantasy featuring Fae mythology, magic, and slow-burn romance. This is the first book in the Rising Elements series.

Book Information

Release Date: March 4, 2022

Publisher: Riverside Press

Kindle eBook: ASIN: B09HRFLWSW; $3.99

Buy Links:

Amazon US | UK

First rule of surviving Monstrous Seattle—don’t let them know you can see them.

As far as I knew, I was the only one who could. Sure, some of the monsters interacted with humans, but they wore some sort of illusion. Sometimes, if I squinted and tilted my head to the side, I could almost see the disguise too. It flickered, shimmering in front of their true form like a mirage, and gave me a splitting migraine if I focused on it for too long.

I reached the door of the warehouse as Peter whipped around the corner. He swerved, narrowly avoiding my abandoned bike, and swore viciously when he saw me. Normally I would’ve given him the middle-finger salute with a cheeky grin, but my stomach was too busy trying to claw its way out of my throat.

Leave, I urged him silently. Get out of here before it’s too late.

The warehouse door swung open. The hinges screeched like they hadn’t been used in at least a hundred years. I turned away from Peter to face the monster standing in the doorway. It was at least eight feet tall, probably male, with blue skin and jagged tusks that extended from his canines and down past his chin. My eyes automatically rose to his face, well above mine.

I realized too late that his illusory face was much lower. The face of a handsome red-haired man shimmered in the middle of the monster’s massive chest.

I’d just broken rule number one.

 

Ceara Nobles is a Utah-based author of romantic suspense and fantasy novels. She graduated from the University of Utah in 2016 with a B.A. in Computer Animation, then realized she hated it. Now she spends her days juggling her side hustle as a line editor and her true love of authorship. When she’s not busy writing, you can find her chasing her toddler, road tripping with her hubby, or hiding in bed with a chai and a good book.

Her latest book is the YA Fantasy, SPARKS AND SHADOW.

Visit her website at www.cearanobles.com or connect with her at Facebook and Instagram.

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Book Blitz & Giveaway - Remnant by Rachel Blake & Amilia Quinn

Remnant

(Doms of Master's Inc., #1)

Author: Amilia Quinn & Rachel Blake

Publication Date: March 1st, 2022

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance / Suspense

Book Description:

I should walk away from Montana Soltin content with the knowledge that I saved her from the Theophilus Killer. However, when I discover she’s found solace at the bottom of a bottle, I make her an offer she can’t refuse.

A distraction from her addiction.

As her sobriety buddy, I’m more than happy to use my dominance to entice her submissive nature, but I soon find myself looking at the possibility of a life I never thought I would have the privilege of knowing.

But when Master’s Inc finds information that suggests the Theophilus Killer wasn’t the head of the monster, I can’t help but wonder how safe she really is.

I saved her once so why do I feel such a strong need to do it again?

Buy Links:

Amazon US | UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

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Book Blitz & Giveaway - Against The Boards by Danica Flynn

Against The Boards

(Philadelphia Bulldogs, #3)

Author: Danica Flynn

Publication Date: March 1st, 2022

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance / Sports

Book Description:

ROXANNE

When I applied for a job with the Philadelphia Bulldogs, I never thought they would offer it to me on the spot. Luckily for me, my twin was letting me stay at his place while he played hockey overseas.

Then he dropped the bomb that Benny was his new roommate. You know, the only guy on the team I can’t stand. I don’t know how we’re gonna survive being roommates. Because honestly? Some days I wasn’t sure if I wanted to kiss him or punch him.

BENNY

When TJ told me his sister was moving to Philly and needed a place to stay, I knew I should have high-tailed it out of town for the offseason.

But I didn’t. Because I’m all sorts of foolish when it comes to that feisty woman. Every time our paths cross, I open my mouth and make her mad. Usually with good reason, too.

The two of us being roommates was bad news. We’re either going to kill each other or I’m gonna give her the best kiss of her life. I’m not sure which is worse.

The Philadelphia Bulldogs hockey team are back, in this all new-standalone novel. Books can be enjoyed in any order. If you love a steamy enemies to lovers romance, this one is for you.

Buy Links:

Amazon US | UK | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

Book Blitz & Giveaway - Fire of the Forebears by L.A. Buck

Fire of the Forebears

(Heritor’s Helm, #1)

Author: L.A. Buck

Publication Date: February 22nd, 2022

Genre: Adult Fantasy

Book Description:

Pitted against one another, with the people and country they love in jeopardy, the daughter of a deserter and the son of the king have a chance to fulfill their forebears’ legacy—or destroy it entirely.

Twisted monsters called saja lurk in the shadows of the mountains. Rumors say the Fidelis, human wielders of an ancient elemental magic, again walk the plains. Not all in Avaron believe, and not all welcome the return of legend.

Kura’s a skeptic. But, she’ll cross and befriend centaurs, talking animals, and worse to save her family after the rebellion mistakes her for the land’s prophesied savior. And, while he’d rather negotiate with rebels than fight them, Triston can’t ignore prophecy. That was the sham his father used to steal the crown in the first place.

Over a century ago, their ancestors sailed the oceans in search of peace and died as heroes fighting for it. But heroes—and villains—aren’t always what they seem to be.

Inspired by Brandon Sanderson’s grounded characters and JRR Tolkien’s sense of wonder, Fire of the Forebears is a fantasy for fans who think a dual perspective adventure about the fate of one nation might still be pretty epic.

Buy Links:

Amazon US | UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo