Blog Tour & Giveaway: Broken Wings - Shannon Dittemore, Book Review (213).

Welcome to my stop on the Broken Wings blog tour hosted by YA Bound.  Click HERE to see the full blog tour schedule!

Broken Wings (Angel Eyes Trilogy #2)

by Shannon Dittemore 

Publication: 19th February 2013

Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers

Pages: 320

Genre: Paranormal

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

Giant angels with metal wings and visible song. A blind demon restored from the pit of darkness. And a girl who has never felt more broken.

Brielle sees the world as it really is: a place where the Celestial exists side by side with human reality. But in the aftermath of a supernatural showdown, her life begins to crumble. Her boyfriend, Jake, is keeping something from her—something important. Her overprotective father has started drinking again. He’s dating a much younger woman who makes Brielle’s skin crawl, and he’s downright hostile toward Jake. Haunting nightmares keep Brielle from sleeping, and flashes of Celestial vision keep her off kilter.

What she doesn’t know is that she’s been targeted. The Prince of Darkness himself has heard of the boy with healing in his hands and of the girl who sees through the Terrestrial Veil. When he plucks the blind demon, Damien, from the fiery chasm and sends him back to Earth with new eyes, the stage is set for a cataclysmic battle of good versus evil.

Then Brielle unearths the truth about her mother’s death and she must question everything she ever thought was true.

Brielle has no choice. She knows evil forces are converging and will soon rain their terror down upon the town of Stratus. She must master the weapons she’s been given. She must fight.

But can she fly with broken wings?

My Thoughts.

I really, really loved the first book in this series Angel Eyes and was more than delighted to be a part of this blog tour.

The visualization that you get whilst reading this book/series through the descriptions is stunning, I love the Angels that have been created here and the whole storyline makes this series one of my favourites in the paranormal genre featuring Angels.

And while this has been released as Christian Fiction which I'm not a particular fan of, this series whilst having God and religion throughout the books it doesn't take away from the storyline but adds to it instead, it helps that Shannon wrote it the way she did which makes it more enjoyable for those whom aren't religious in any sense.

With some extremely likeable characters, (yes Jake and Canaan, I'm talking about you) and our lead heroine Brielle , this book surpassed the debut novel which I didn't expect and because of that it just gave us so much more to anticipate with the third novel Dark Halo (which I love the title of).

I highly recommend everyone pick this book up, but for those of you who haven't read Angel Eyes definitely start with that one first.

I give this 4.5/5.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Book One: Angel Eyes.

Publication: 29th May 2012

Publisher: Thomas Nelson Fiction

Pages: 327

Genre: Paranormal

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

Once you’ve seen, you can’t unsee. Everything changes when you’ve looked at the world through . . .

ANGEL EYES

Brielle’s a ballerina who went to the city to chase her dreams and found tragedy instead. She’s come home to shabby little Stratus, Oregon, to live with her grief and her guilt . . . and the incredible, numbing cold she can’t seem to shake.

Jake’s the new guy at school. The boy next door with burning hands and an unbelievable gift that targets him for corruption.

Something more than fate has brought them together. An evil bigger than both of them lurks in the shadows nearby, hiding in plain sight. Two angels stand guard, unsure what’s going to happen. And a beauty brighter than Jake or Brielle has ever seen is calling them to join the battle in a realm where all human choices start.

A realm that only angels and demons—and Brielle—can perceive.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

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About the Author

Shannon Dittemore has an overactive imagination and a passion for truth. Her lifelong journey to combine the two is responsible for a stint at Portland Bible College, performances with local theater companies, and a focus on youth and young adult ministry. The daughter of one preacher and the wife of another, she spends her days imagining things unseen and chasing her two children around their home in Northern California. Angel Eyes is her first novel.

Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Facebook / Pinterest

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: A Need So Insatiable - Cecilia Robert

A Need So Insatiable

by Cecilia Robert 

“I’ve never bowed or kneeled for anyone,” Rafael said. “Never thought I would.” Then he was on his knees. He slid his arms around my waist, tugging me closer and bowed his head.

“You own me, Sophie.” He looked up, his dark eyes hitting me with enough force to snatch the breath from my lungs. “You’ve owned me from the moment I walked into your life in that music room. Then I saw you slipping out the window like the wolves were after you and I knew I wanted you in my life. You’ve wrapped yourself in my heart and mind. I can’t get you out. I don’t want to.”

Graduate opera singer, Sophie Fisher’s life is on fire and it’s not her breathtaking voice lighting it, but the trail of debts her father left behind after he passed away a few months ago. If she’s not ducking around corners or slipping out of windows to escape the debt collectors and a slew of characters sent from hell, she’s dealing with her rebellious fifteen-year-old sister, Lilli, who is still coming to terms with their father’s death. And as if that’s not enough, Rafael Van Rees bursts into her life—literally—bringing with him a set of emotions she isn’t prepared to deal with and a life the public had no idea of.

Rafael Van Rees, Maestro extraordinaire, just wants to be left in peace to date whichever woman he feels like, have dinner with whomever he feels like, and just enjoy his life. Until he meets Sophie and his past returns to haunt him. And just when he thought he didn’t care about her, his history proves him wrong. He knows when it comes to her, it’s all or nothing. Besides, she makes him feel fuzzy all over.

Is Sophie’s fire hot enough to melt the ice coursing through his veins?

Cover art: Najla Qamber at http://najlaqamberdesigns.com/

Genre: Contemporary romance

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17315544-a-need-so-insatiable

Book  Release: Winter 2013

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Cecilia Robert lives in Vienna with her two children, has an incurable obsession with books, anything romantic, TV and medieval architecture. When not working in her full time job, catching up with her two children, writing or reading, she can be found, knitting or crocheting, taking photos of old buildings.

Author links: http://cecereadandwrite.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CeciliaRobertBooks

Blog Tour: Fall For Me - K.A Last, Guest Post, Giveaway & Book Review (212).

Fall For Me (The Tate Chronicles #1)

by K.A. Last

Title: Fall For Me (The Tate Chronicles #1)

Author: K. A. Last

Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Date of Publication: January 17th 2013

Number of pages: Paperback – 312

Word Count: 71,000

Formats available: eBook and Paperback

Cover Artist: KILA Designs – www.facebook.com/KILAdesigns

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/ar_JVC2AgzE

Purchase Links:

Amazon eBook http://amzn.to/10aQzet

Amazon paperback http://amzn.to/Ua9lTQ

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/279983

“Angels aren’t supposed to fall in love, especially with each other. But for the record, you were worth it.”

Grace Tate is a Protection Angel and Vampire Hunter, and she has always followed the rules. But some rules are made to be broken…

Until now the fight against evil has been simple, and falling in love was never part of the plan. So what happens when it’s beyond Grace’s control, and when she least expects it she falls for the wrong person?

All hell breaks loose, that’s what.

At Hopetown Valley High, not everything is as it seems, and the one person Grace thought was her enemy becomes her most important ally.

Blood will be shed, lives will be lost and friendships will be tested. It all comes down to one decision, and when Grace tries to save all those dear to her, she realises not everyone can be—or wants to be—saved.

My Thoughts.

I'm a huge paranormal genre fan, any kind of supernatural entities and I'm pretty much guaranteed to read it, this time we are focusing in Angels And Vampires.

Grace is a Protection Angel, destined to be reborn into the Tate family over and over to protect them in their jobs as Vampire Hunters, Grace in this lifetime has a twin brother Archer, they are the only two Tate's left in this generation.

One night while patrolling they come across a girl Charlotte, who they realise is a Vampire, but Grace who has the ability to read minds discovers that she has a pure soul and has never ever killed a human being, intrigued they seek her out never realising the huge secret that she is hiding will change both of their lives forever.

Told in alternating perspectives each chapter, the other character sharing their story in the book is Josh, a human who has had a crush on Grace for years, and she for him but being together with a human is forbidden.

Rounding out the cast is Fallen Angel Seth, whom Grace used to be friends with back before he fell and who nowadays spends his days hanging around with Vampires, but there is a story as to why he fell, their story is told in the prologue, also featured are the respective best-friends of said chapter holders Emma and Ryan, their lives will also be impacted in a major way in this book.

I'd be very interested to see where the next book and the rest of the series goes, a good quick read, ready to pique your interest in the lives of the Tate family.

I give this 3.75/5.

Guest Post.

Hi Sarah, and thanks for having me at your blog today. Since today is Valentine’s Day I thought I’d talk about the one thing every girl loves to get from their beloved (apart from flowers). Jewellery!

Throughout Fall For Me, rings play a pretty important part. Grace wears a ring on her right hand as a symbol of her connection and devotion to Heaven. The traditional symbol of eternity lies within it, the never-ending circle that represents union, love and unyielding faith. All the angels in my world are given a ring when they first come into creation and each ring—like each angel—is unique. The rings also play another very important part in the story, but you’ll have to read the book to find out what it is!

Grace actually has two rings in Fall For Me. Her creation ring is a blue sapphire surrounded by flowing curves that look like wings.

And, Josh gives Grace a ring at some stage during the story. It’s also a sapphire and has a sparkling diamond on either side. He has his name engraved on the inside of the band for her.

The other great thing about Valentine’s Day is, of course, kissing! I’d love to share with you Grace and Josh’s first kiss in Fall For Me.

This teaser is from Chapter Fifteen, and from Josh’s point of view.

Grace turned her face up to mine and finally I felt the velvet soft touch of her lips. We both trembled as our bodies intertwined. Grace ran her hands up my neck and curled her fingers into my hair. Nothing else mattered and we were lost in one another. I moved my hands from her waist around to her back then traced the line of her spine up to her wings, ever so gently caressing them. Grace tilted her head back and I placed feather light kisses down her neck to her collar bone then back up the other side.

“You are heaven in the flesh,” I whispered, gazing into her sparkling blue eyes.

Grace smiled and more tears spilled down her cheeks, shimmering in the sunlight like tiny flecks of quartz. I kissed her again, only this time with a hunger so intense I never wanted it to end.

Thank you again for having me today, Sarah. I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine’s Day.

K x

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About the Author:

 

K. A. Last was born in Subiaco, Western Australia, and moved to Sydney with her parents and older brother when she was eight. Artistic and creative by nature, she studied Graphic Design and graduated with an Advanced Diploma. After marrying her high school sweetheart, she concentrated on her career before settling into family life. Blessed with a vivid imagination, she began writing to let off creative steam, and fell in love with it. She now resides in a peaceful leafy suburb north of Sydney with her husband, their two children, and a rabbit named Twitch.

Website: www.kalastbooks.com.au

Twitter: www.twitter.com/KALastBooks

Facebook: www.facebook.com/KALastBooks

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/KALast

Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/kalast

Cover Reveal: Teardrop (Teardrop #1) Lauren Kate

Teardrop (Teardrop #1)

by Lauren Kate

Never, ever cry. . . . Eureka Boudreaux's mother drilled that rule into her daughter years ago. But now her mother is gone, and everywhere Eureka goes he is there: Ander, the tall, pale blond boy who seems to know things he shouldn't, who tells Eureka she is in grave danger, who comes closer to making her cry than anyone has before.

But Ander doesn't know Eureka's darkest secret: ever since her mother drowned in a freak accident, Eureka wishes she were dead, too. She has little left that she cares about, just her oldest friend, Brooks, and a strange inheritance—a locket, a letter, a mysterious stone, and an ancient book no one understands. The book contains a haunting tale about a girl who got her heart broken and cried an entire continent into the sea. Eureka is about to discover that the ancient tale is more than a story, that Ander might be telling the truth . . . and that her life has far darker undercurrents than she ever imagined. From Lauren Kate comes an epic saga of heart-stopping romance, devastating secrets, and dark magic . . . a world where everything you love can be washed away

Expected publication: October 22nd 2013 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

(ARC) Book Review (211): The Indigo Spell - Richelle Mead

The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines #3)

by Richelle Mead

Publication: 12th February 2013

Publisher: Penguin Books Australia

Pages: 401

Genre: Paranormal

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.


Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.

My Thoughts.

Richelle Mead has got to be one of the most gifted authors around, with her ability to capture your attention and emotions so completely whilst reading one of her books, that you feel a loss once the book comes to an end.

While quite a few authors release subsequent books in a series that aren't up to par with the first book, Mead has the ability of writing books that get better with each new release, she could write a shopping list and I'd probably find it fascinating!

I was so excited to receive an e-galley of this book, I've read every series that Mead has written so to receive an arc of one of her books was very exciting to me, and as always this book was brilliant and had me doing a happy dance, those who've read it already know what I'm talking about.

I love these characters, I'm a HUGE Adrian fan, he's a favourite of mine from the Bloodlines and Vampire Academy series, his one liners have me in stitches, and I can never get enough of his wit.

After the ending we were left with in The Golden Lily I was a bit upset, to be teased the way we were and then to have it taken away from us was cruel, but Richelle after this book all is forgiven. *Smiley Face*.

Sydney's on the search for Marcus Finch, a former Alchemist whom she hopes will help her, Miss Terwillger's sister is going around sucking the youth out of young witches to stay young and Sydney's persuaded to help her find the possible victims beforehand, we have a wedding and some cameos from characters of the Vampire Academy series and of course what we're all reading this series for SYDRIAN (Sydney and Adrian).

I'm not going to say anything else about this book because I don't want to spoil it for anybody, but I strongly suggest that everybody pick this up A.S.A.P, you won't be disappointed.

Another stroke of genius from Richelle, highly recommended.

I give this 5/5.

Book Review (210): The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2) - Richelle Mead

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2)

by Richelle Mead

Publication: 12th June 2012

Publisher: Penguin Books Australia

Pages: 418

Genre: Paranormal

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she’s been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California–tasked with protecting Moroi princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war. Formerly in disgrace, Sydney is now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.

But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age–old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and the sense of what it means to truly belong. Her world becomes even more complicated when magical experiments show Sydney may hold the key to prevent becoming Strigoi—the fiercest vampires, the ones who don’t die. But it’s her fear of being just that—special, magical, powerful—that scares her more than anything. Equally daunting is her new romance with Brayden, a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way. Yet, as perfect as he seems, Sydney finds herself being drawn to someone else—someone forbidden to her.

When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney’s loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before. She wonders how she's supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she's been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.

Should she trust the Alchemists—or her heart?

My Thoughts.

I love anything that Richelle Mead writes, her books always keep me entranced and enchanted and I can never, ever get enough, and this series Bloodlines which is the Vampire Academy spin-off is no exception.

What I love most of all about this series is Adrian, he was definitely one of my favourite characters from Vampire Academy and I was ecstatic when he was made one of the central figures in this series, I also like Sydney but I'm not kidding myself, it's all about Adrian Ivashkov for me!

After the last sentence in Bloodlines I was desperate to get my hands on and read this book, unfortunately I've only just gotten around to reading it *hangs head in shame*, but it has worked out well as I was accepted for an e-galley of The Indigo Spell on NetGalley it gave me a reason to pick it up.

Obviously as it has been a while since I'd read Bloodlines I was a bit hazy on what had happened in the previous book but throughout the story it recounted what happened previously and I sort of got caught up, although I really don't remember Angeline at all, I really should have found the time somewhere to reread Bloodlines.

So this time around we have a secret society of sorts that used to be connected to the Alchemist's centuries ago who take the spotlight in this book, an old myth of a group of vampire hunters have found to be verified and have their sights set on Sonya who used to be a Strigoi and who has now been turned back into Moroi.

Sydney is set up with Brayden whom is described as her soul-mate, they are both interested in the same things and have intense, academic discussions, but we all know who she really likes as much as she denies it and we just are waiting for the time when she will finally admit her feelings to herself.

Fingers crossed that Jill finally realises what a great guy Eddie is and gives him a chance, Eddie and his unrequited love for her while she's dating his roommate Micah is just heartbreaking the way that he thinks that he's no good for her, Richelle hopefully won't be so cruel as to not pair these two up.

And then THE ENDING!, Richelle How could you? I mean to get so close to what all the fans want but yet so far, just frustrating.

Another fantastic book, I don't expect anything less from Richelle these days, and I hope it continues in The Indigo Spell.

I give this 5/5.

A Big Thanks To Penguin Books Australia.

Romance Is In The Air Giveaway Hop (INT).

Featuring Young Adult & Clean Adult Romance.

Win any one book pictured here, (Int) as long as The Book Depository ships to your country.

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