Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Happy Book Birthday! 4/5/16

 

Happy Book Birthday to some amazing novels, some of which I have been waiting months for!!!  They're on my Book-et List, hehe (pun entirely intended).  Because some of the books on here are part of a series, I didn't post the synopsis' of the books (you know, spoilers and what not... they're a real bitch).  LOL!  But never fear!  If you want to find out more, just click on the book titles below, they will take you to the books' link to Goodreads.

1. UNDERLAND by Chanda Hahn

2. PERFEKT BALANCE by S.T. Bende
{Book 3 in The Ære Saga}
Book 1 - Perfekt Order
Book 2 - Perfekt Control

 3.  STARLIGHT by Adrienne Woods
{Book 5 in The Dragonian series}
Book 1 - Firebolt
Book 1.5 - Venom
Book 2 - Thunderlight
Book 3 - Frostbite
Book 3.5 - Poison
Book 4 - Moonbreeze
*Three future Novellas to come!

4. FLAMECASTER by Cinda Williams Chima

5. THE MIRROR KING by Jodi Meadows
{Book 2 in The Orphan Queen series}

6. NIGHTSTRUCK by Jenna Black
 

7. THE CITY'S SON by Tom Pollock


8. FOREST OF RUINS by Kelley Armstrong
{Book 3 in the Age Of Legends series}
Book 1 - Sea Of Shadows
Book 2 - Empire Of Night

 9. THE GLITTERING COURT by Richelle Mead
{Author of The Vampire Diaries}

NEW RELEASE - Perfekt Balance by S.T. Bende



PERFEKT BALANCE
THE ÆRE SAGA: BOOK THREE


Genre: Upper YA Paranormal/Fantasy (Norse Mythology)


Release Date: TODAY!! April 5, 2016


Back Cover Copy


Become what you believe.


Elsa Fredriksen knows there’s a thin line between love and fear. As High Healer, she rights the wrongs committed by those who choose the darkness. But even Asgard’s secret weapon can’t undo every injury—especially when her fate is completely entwined with the god she’s trying to save.


Elsa’s in love with the Norse God of Justice. But Forse’s heart is ruled by fear—fear that the past will repeat itself; fear that opening his heart will compromise his ability to do his job; fear that he’ll hurt the one girl he desperately wants to protect. Again.


When Elsa faces off against the very monster she once swore to protect, her survival depends on a power she isn’t sure she can control. And when Forse’s worst nightmare unfolds in front of him, Elsa has to decide whether it’s more important to hold the realms in perfekt balance . . . or hold on to the guy she can’t imagine existing without.


Buy Links:
Perfekt Balance on Goodreads


Perfekt Balance Excerpt:


“Hold up.” Henrik held out one hand. “Where are you going? And why is Forse about to kill someone?”


We all turned to look at Forse. Sure enough, his eyes were slits, his breathing was sharp, and he had a pulsing forehead vein that rivaled Tyr’s neck one. He positively seethed anger.


“We are going to Svartalfheim,” Tyr answered coolly. The four gods in the room drew a collective gasp.


The mortal took in our reactions with practiced calm. “Which one’s Svartalfheim again?” she asked lightly.


“The worst one after Helheim,” Brynn muttered.


“It’s the realm of the dark elves,” I explained. “When the cosmos was born, the blackest souls were sent to a wasteland—a realm of isolation and soot. Svartalfheim.”


“And you’re all going there?” Mia squeaked.


“Forse, Brynn, Elsa, and I are going there.” Tyr spoke with his chin on Mia’s head. “You’re staying here with Henrik.”


“Elsa doesn’t need to go,” Forse argued.


“You of all people know how delicate this retrieval is. The perp has been a fugitive since…well, it’s been a long time. She’s being harbored by dark elves who demanded Fenrir in her place, and I have no intention of unleashing that beast again. The elves agreed to accept one of the Svartish treasures from the vault instead of the wolf, but they could very well turn on us once we get there. We need a Unifier to make sure this exchange goes peacefully. Right now, Elsa’s all we’ve got,” Tyr finished.


“Um, thanks?” I said.


“You know what I mean.” Tyr turned his gaze to me. “I don’t want to drag you into Svartalfheim any more than Forse does. I know you’re not up to speed on the peacekeeping function, and I don’t like putting you in danger. Not only are you my baby sister, but you’re a Key—you’re one of the gods we train to protect. I hate everything about this. Unfortunately, I don’t have another option.”


“I could go,” Mia offered. Her voice was shaky, but she held her head high.


“No.” Five voices sounded as one. A combination of relief and disappointment flickered across Mia’s features.


“If I’m not ready, you’re definitely not ready,” I reminded her. “I’ll get this one, and once I have a handle on this bizarre skill set I’ll pass the torch to you. I promise.”


“I’ll hold down the fort from here this time.” Mia stared me down. “But I don’t want to be on baking duty with Henrik forever.”


I swallowed. Figure this out, Elsa.


“Hey, there are worse things than baking with me.” Henrik raised an eyebrow. “I never did teach you to make my mom’s chocolate mousse cake, did I?”


Mia looked up with a small smile. “Does she use Mexican vanilla?”


“Tahitian,” Henrik countered. “And I’ve got a stash in my secret cabinet.”


“Now that that’s settled, does anyone want to tell me the name of the perp we’re retrieving from that Odin-forsaken realm?” Brynn chimed in.


I turned to my brother and waited for his answer. When he spoke, his voice was clipped.


“Runa.”


The name fell like a lead balloon at a birthday party. Brynn’s mouth dropped open, and Henrik sucked in a breath. I couldn’t see Forse’s face, but the sound of knuckles cracking behind me let me know he wasn’t happy. I could relate.


Oh dear gods. We’re going after Runa.


The room swirled in a violent vortex, and Forse gripped my arms to steady me. As he righted me in my chair, the world slowed to a standstill. Runa was more than just Forse’s psychotic ex-girlfriend. She was the monster who committed the crime—the one that changed everything.


When I finally found my voice, it came out dry and scratchy. “We’re going after Runa.”


“Yes.” Forse watched me carefully.


“And you’re charging her with high treason.”


“Yes,” Forse repeated.


“Good.”


Forse kept his hands on my arms as I breathed through my rage. “Elsa, if you don’t want to go with us we can—”


“We can what?” Tyr interrupted. “We can’t let the dark elves keep her—her crime was against Asgard, and she needs to answer to our realm for what she’s done. Not Svartalfheim. You of all gods know that.”


“I’m not letting her hurt Elsa!” Forse exploded. The words echoed off the marble countertops, piercing the normally calm kitchen.


“I’m not letting her hurt anyone!” Tyr yelled back. “And the only way I can ensure that is if I bring her to Odin!”


“Enough!” I interjected. With my emotions under control, I re-opened my abilities and sent waves of calm at Forse and Tyr. Their chests continued to rise and fall with angry breaths, but their auras reflected a slight decrease in rage. It was the best I could do. “Forse, I understand where you’re coming from. But Tyr’s right. Runa needs to be brought to justice. And since that’s you”—I tapped the justice god with my pointer finger—“and since I’ve got your back whether you like it or not, I’m going with you. Tyr’s spot on; we don’t want this exchange going bad. We can’t let her hurt anyone else. I need you to have that faith in me you promised you would.”


“I believe in you, Elsa. I’ve always known you have what it takes to master this job, even before you believed it yourself. You’re incredibly powerful, and you can do anything you set your mind to. But there are so many forces working against us these days. If anything happened to you, I’d never forgive myself.” Forse pressed his forehead to mine. His concern was sweet, and normally I’d have melted into a giggling mess at the contact, but right now I just couldn’t go there.


“Let’s make sure we’re all safe then. We’ll bring Runa in so she can be prosecuted to the fullest extent of Asgardian law.” I shot Forse a look brimming with confidence I didn’t actually possess. Since the energetic fireballs shooting between him and Tyr suggested they still operated at a six on the anger scale, it was clear I was a woefully ineffective Unifier.


And I had the job of my life ahead of me.








AUTHOR BIO:
Before finding domestic bliss in suburbia, S.T. Bende lived in Manhattan Beach (where she became overly fond of Peet’s Coffee) and Europe… where she became overly fond of McVities cookies. Her love of Scandinavian culture and a very patient Norwegian teacher inspired the books of The Elsker Saga and The Ære Saga. She hopes her characters make you smile, and she dreams of skiing on Jotunheim and Hoth.


Find S.T. on Twitter @stbende, her website (www.stbende.com), or Facebook (www.facebook.com/stbende). While you're at it, introduce yourself to @UllMyhr and @TyrFredriksen -- when they’re not saving the cosmos from dark elves, they love meeting new friends . . . especially the human kind.


Want to connect with fellow Norse god fans? S.T.'s readers have created a Facebook group! Head over to the RagnaRockstars page to chat with other readers, talk with S.T., and get access to exclusive content... including Ull POVs and sneak peeks at upcoming Ære Saga books!


AUTHOR LINKS
Connect with ST Bende at:


TUR is currently available for FREE to newsletter subscribers!


Skål, y’all!
TBENDE-logo1.png

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Book Review: Seeking Havok by Lila Felix


I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Oh dear me, this book took my emotions on a ride and left me with all the feels.  Some people get to live in their 'happily ever after', but Havok's tale is far from that.  Her home life sucks.  She would leave but her relationship with her mom, no matter how screwy it is, always brings her back.  With her dark and tortured past (and present), he finds solace in talking with the radio host of her favorite station... someone who doesn't know her, who she can share her woes and troubles with and not feel judged.  Things take a turn when, no matter how stubborn she is or how many times she tries to turn him away, she forms a strictly platonic relationship with a guy she meets.  Cal is pretty much head over heels for Havok (and so was I, with him).  :o)  He pursues her under the pretense of friends only, with the hope of becoming more.  He cares about her, swoons her, and just says the perfect, sweetest things sometimes.

I'm all for fantasy and adventure but sometimes it's nice to read a realistic book where the characters' lives aren't perfect.  This was a great book about trusting people- trusting those you care about with your heart and deepest secrets, praying that they'll stay; overcoming your fears and doubts and opening yourself up to someone else.  It was a bittersweet journey of watching Havok realize family isn't always blood, and complete strangers have the potential to be your best friend and confidant.
I can't wait to read more books by the lovely Ms. Felix!
*Quotes to come!
What are some of your favorites? 
Find out more about Seeking Havok and Lila Felix HERE on Goodreads! 
If it sounds like something you'd enjoy, buy it or get a sample of the beginning of the story HERE on Amazon!

Monday, November 30, 2015

Get ready to Pre-Order Dawn Of Ash by Rebecca Ethington!


Title: Dawn of Ash
Author: Rebecca Ethington
Genre: YA Paranormal
Expected Release Date: Feb. 23rd, 2015
Hosted by: Lady Amber's Tours



Blurb: 
Underneath the deep red barrier Edmund has placed over the city, Prague is in ruins… 


Vilỳ hide in the darkened alleys, waiting to attack anyone who passes, while Edmund’s men roam the blood-soaked streets, scouring every crumbling building in a mad attempt to flush out Ilyan and his men. 


Among the danger, Ilyan and Joclyn are trapped, unable to leave the city. trying to keep their people safe behind a powerful shield, unseen from Edmund and his scouts.


Wyn spends her days haunted by her daughter and watching Thom waste away from the mysterious curse slowly taking him.


Ryland has risen above his father’s control, ready to take his place as his brother’s second. However, Sain needs his help first for a simple assignment, or so he thinks.


Their safety is about to be shattered.


A mole behind those safe, Cathedral walls has begun whispering through the survivors that Joclyn is unstable, that her magic is an uncontainable force that will destroy them all in the end. 


Determined not to let the rumors affect her, Joclyn battles ahead, only to have reality and sight intersect in an explosion that shatters the walls between future, past, and present, leaving her imprisoned in a seamless existence she must learn to control … before Edmund and Ovailia control her.


Before Sain unfurls the plan he has been orchestrating for centuries.




Rebecca Ethington is an internationally bestselling author with almost 700,000 books sold. Her breakout debut, The Imdalind Series, has been featured on bestseller lists since its debut in 2012, reaching thousands of adoring fans worldwide and cited as "Interesting and Intense" by USA Today's Happily Ever After Blog.

From writing horror to romance and creating every sort of magical creature in be-tween, Rebecca's imagination weaves vibrant worlds that transport readers into the pages of her books. Her writing has been described as fresh, original, and groundbreaking, with stories that bend genres and create fantastical worlds.

Born and raised under the lights of a stage, Rebecca has written stories by the ghost light, told them in whispers in dark corridors, and never stopped creating within the pages of a notebook.









Friday, November 20, 2015

Imdalind Series Book Blitz!


Title: Kiss of Fire & Eyes of Ember
Author: Rebecca Ethington
Genre: YA Paranormal


Blurb: 
Joclyn Despain has been marred by a brand on her skin. She doesn't know why the mark appeared on her neck, but she doesn't want anyone to see it, including her best friend Ryland, who knows everything else about her. The scar is the reason she hides herself behind baggy clothes, and won't let the idea of kissing Ryland enter her mind, no matter how much she wants to.

The scar is the reason she is being hunted.

If only she knew that she was.


If only she had known that the cursed stone her estranged father sent for her 16th birthday would trigger a change in her. Now, she is being stalked by a tall blonde man, and is miraculously throwing her high school bully ten feet in the air.


Joclyn attempts to find some answers and the courage to follow her heart. When Ryland finds her scar; only he knows what it means, and who will kill her because of it. 



Blurb:
Joclyn is in hiding, hunted by the man she still desperately loves. Ryland is gone, his mind erased, no memory of Joclyn remains. But, Joclyn’s heart desperately begs her to hold out hope. While, in reality the black eyed monster that possesses him, attempts to kill her over and over.

If it wasn’t for Ilyan, Joclyn would be dead by now. 


Ilyan. The man who once stalked her, is now Joclyn’s protector, the only thing she has left. He protects Joclyn from the men who seek to end her life, and while she is haunted by dreams where Ryland begs her to break the bond between them. 


Ilyan is there. Always there.


Ilyan trains and prepares her, teaching her everything she needs to know in the hope that one day she can avenge Ryland, if not protect herself from him.


And then there is her father.


The man who has never been there, is suddenly responsible for everything. And who he is has made Joclyn into something she never wanted to be.


The Silnỳ.



Rebecca Ethington is an internationally bestselling author with almost 700,000 books sold. Her breakout debut, The Imdalind Series, has been featured on bestseller lists since its debut in 2012, reaching thousands of adoring fans worldwide and cited as "Interesting and Intense" by USA Today's Happily Ever After Blog.


From writing horror to romance and creating every sort of magical creature in be-tween, Rebecca's imagination weaves vibrant worlds that transport readers into the pages of her books. Her writing has been described as fresh, original, and groundbreaking, with stories that bend genres and create fantastical worlds.



Born and raised under the lights of a stage, Rebecca has written stories by the ghost light, told them in whispers in dark corridors, and never stopped creating within the pages of a notebook.




Author Links: 





Buy Links:
Kiss of Fire:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1OhCZkt
Eyes of Ember
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1OhD2Na


THE SHARE GAME!!!  
Every time you share about the sale and include the hashtag #Imdalind or #ImdalindSeries (imdalind, in case you can't tell that's an i) you are entered to win one of 3 $15 Visa gift cards, or 1/15 ebook copies of Scorched Treachery. One winner will be chosen from each of the following: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram - so be sure to share everywhere.













Friday, November 13, 2015

COVER REVEAL: Dawn Of Ash by Rebecca Ethington



Title: Dawn of Ash
Author: Rebecca Ethington
Genre: YA Paranormal
Hosted by: Lady Amber's Tours



Blurb:
Underneath the deep red barrier Edmund has Vilỳ hide in the darkened alleys, waiting to attack anyone who passes, while Edmund’s men roam the blood-soaked streets, scouring every crumbling building in a mad attempt to flush out Ilyan and his men. 

Among the danger, Ilyan and Joclyn are trapped, unable to leave the city. trying to keep their people safe behind a powerful shield, unseen from Edmund and his scouts.

Wyn spends her days haunted by her daughter and watching Thom waste away from the mysterious curse slowly taking him.

Ryland has risen above his father’s control, ready to take his place as his brother’s second. However, Sain needs his help first for a simple assignment, or so he thinks.

Their safety is about to be shattered.

A mole behind those safe, Cathedral walls has begun whispering through the survivors that Joclyn is unstable, that her magic is an uncontainable force that will destroy them all in the end. 

Determined not to let the rumors affect her, Joclyn battles ahead, only to have reality and sight intersect in an explosion that shatters the walls between future, past, and present, leaving her imprisoned in a seamless existence she must learn to control … before Edmund and Ovailia control her.

Before Sain unfurls the plan he has been orchestrating for centuries.





Rebecca Ethington is an internationally bestselling author with almost 700,000 books sold. Her breakout debut, The Imdalind Series, has been featured on bestseller lists since its debut in 2012, reaching thousands of adoring fans worldwide and cited as "Interesting and Intense" by USA Today's Happily Ever After Blog.

From writing horror to romance and creating every sort of magical creature in be-tween, Rebecca's imagination weaves vibrant worlds that transport readers into the pages of her books. Her writing has been described as fresh, original, and groundbreaking, with stories that bend genres and create fantastical worlds.

Born and raised under the lights of a stage, Rebecca has written stories by the ghost light, told them in whispers in dark corridors, and never stopped creating within the pages of a notebook.