Review and Giveaway: The Ferryman and the Flame Books by Rhiannon Paille

Book Info:

Title: Surrender

Series: The Ferryman + The Flame #1

By: Rhiannon Paille

Published: October 2nd, 2012 by Createspace

Blurb:

How far would you go to save everything you ever loved?

Kaliel was warned about her love for the Ferryman. One day he will marry the land and leave Avristar forever. She doesn't listen, and because of what she is-- a Flame-- one of nine apocalyptic weapons, she sparks a war. In a desperate attempt to save her home and her love, Kaliel tries to awaken Avred, not knowing she may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

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Review:

I absolutely, positively fell in love with this book as soon as I started the first chapter. The descriptions of the world where the story takes place is so vivid and real in my imagination, it is as if I myself am part of this world. The story is phenomenal. The characters are so well-written and fleshed out, I can almost reach out and touch them. Very well done, and I am stunned into silence by this book.

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Book Info:

Title: Lantern & Poison

Series: The Ferryman + The Flame #1.5

By: Rhiannon Paille

Published: December 11th, 2012

Blurb:

This is SURRENDER from the villain's POV.

Hadwen is no more. The Daed have no choice but to travel to Avrigost to awaken Crestaos. They're thrown into a whirlwind quest for the Flames, not knowing how ruthless and sadistic Crestaos can be.

Review:

I have to say that there are not many books I have read where the POV is given of the villain in the story. This book was just as beautifully written as the first. In fact, I am actually quite torn as to which one I liked better. Absolutely loved it.

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About the Author:

Rhiannon is an up and coming Indie Author that writes Young Adult Fantasy books and some non fiction. She has a PhD in Metaphysical Science and Parapsychology. When she’s not writing books she’s reading minds, singing karaoke, burning dinner and sipping iced cappuccino despite her allergy to coffee. Some day she’d like to own a unicorn—as long as it doesn’t eat her. She's sold over 25,000 copies of her books worldwide.

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Blog Tour Stop: Review and Giveaway for The Nephilim Warriors Series by K.A. Young

Welcome one and all, dear readers, to this very special set of reviews. Why is it special, you might ask? Well, it is special for the very fact that this is my first in what I hope to be many book tours, and what a miraculous series to start with, too. 

After my initial reviews for the separate books in this series, I will be doing an overall thought for the series as a whole, AND there will be a giveaway. Whoot! Whoot! So feel free to enter into that and join the fun that is The Nephilim Warriors Series by K.A. Young.

So...without further ado...LET'S DO THIS THING!!

Book Info:

Title- Prophecy Of The Female Warrior

Series- Nephilim Warriors Book # 1

By- K.A. Young

Genre- Mature Audiences 18+-Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Blurb:

Anna Wilkins is a prototypical housewife. She buys groceries, picks up the dry cleaning and hosts dinner parties.

Everything was picture perfect from the outside looking in until the life she was born to live collided with the life she was living. Her husband is murdered by a creature from another realm, a creature that is only visible to her. Through her pain, his death awakens a part of her she didn't know existed. She is then thrust into a life of Vampires, Werewolves and Sexy Nephilim Warriors.

Drawn to her by a bond as old as their race, a Nephilim Warrior finds Anna at her darkest hour and seeks to arouse what lies dormant within her. The scorching sexual attraction she and the Warrior feel for one another may be beyond anything either of them can control...

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General Thoughts:

The book starts out so normal, a woman grieving for her husband at his graveside, family all around her, but the sudden appearance of a strange man the day of the funeral kind of shakes her up and allows her to fully realize something she has always known but never truly understood. She is very different from those around her. She is part of something bigger than herself. I liked that aspect. The whole "everything is normal but then the paranormal bit shows itself" type of thing. It was a very well-written transition.
However, there was one thing in the beginning of this book that I was not privy to, and that was the fact that Anna just accepts what and who she is with no fight whatsoever. I mean, yeah, she has known she was not normal her whole life, and, okay, she did fight a little, but to me it was not enough. It were as if she freaked out for two seconds and then was like, "Oh, I have a destiny, okay." I just felt that there could have been more conflict in the story in that regard.
I think this book was a bit tame in its storyline. There is an initial protagonist, but by the end of the book, that character and problem is dealt with for the time being in a very tame way. I believe there could have been a bit more, but initially, I loved this first book in the series.

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Book Info:

Title-Destiny Of The Female Warrior

Series- Nephilim Warriors Book # 2

By- K.A. Young

Genre- Mature Audiences 18+-Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Blurb:

 Nothing has ever come easily for the last female warrior of the Nephilim. Now that Anna has found her place in the world, she has much to learn about her new role as Queen. As the mating bond becomes clear, emotions run high as one of the sexy warriors must step aside while the other takes Anna as his Queen and assumes the throne.

It is a wild ride, as Anna must return to Georgia to deal with a vampire that is waging war on residents of her hometown. Luckily, she has her best friend/paired sorceress Elise around to keep things interesting. Anna struggles to find the perfect solution that would allow her to remain loyal to her past as well as honor the responsibility of her present.

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General Thoughts:

Absolutely, positively no complaints on this one. The story started out very strong and ended just as strong. While the first book kind of focuses more on the romance aspect with some fighting and action thrown in, this second book has a nice balance of both. Honestly, there is nothing more to be said, it was just that good.

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Book Info:

Title- Blood Kiss

Series- Nephilim Warriors # 3

By-K.A. Young

Genre-Mature Audiences 18+-Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

 Blurb:

Julie manages her life the best way she knows how, by waking up everyday and putting one foot in front of the other, along with a little help from modern medicine. Most days she holds things together pretty well; as the mother of twin toddlers and a wife to a husband she can barely stand she still manages to keep up appearances and paste a smile onto her face. Until dreams of a sexy vampire plague her nights leaving her panting when she wakes.

Julie begins to struggle with her own urges though she dare not admit aloud that she now has a taste for blood. She longs to indulge her desire by taking the vein of the vampire that makes her quake with need. How much longer can she keep the creature inside of her at bay? Only time will tell if Julie is strong enough to resist her darkest desire or if she even wants to try.

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General Thoughts:

I was so excited to delve into Julie's mind for this book. Especially since there is a special quality about her just as there was in Anna. Now, Julie's reaction when she found out who she was, basically was the reaction I kind of expected and anticipated. I think if it weren't for her sudden urge for blood and various other signs, I think she would have done everything she could to avoid having to deal with the inevitable and just gone off and tried to live her life as normally as she could.

This book was a very nice rounding out of the series and the change in perspective was welcome. I loved that the author allowed us readers to experience Julie's change to the supernatural, just as we were able to experience with Anna in the first book.

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Overall Thoughts on the Series as a Whole:

This series is full of action, plenty of steamy romance (and I mean STEAMY!), and quite a bit of bad-assery. There are so many strong characters in this who are very well-written and fleshed out. The storyline meshes very well throughout the three books. 

I felt that these books were a very quick read because of the great writing and I will definitely be checking out more of K.A. Young's work, just to see what other wonderful characters she has stored up in her imagination.

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About the Author:

K.A. Young is a paranormal/ urban fantasy romance author that lives with her family in the South. She began writing because her mind was swimming with incredible stories that were begging to be told. Her love for reading began as a small child when she realized that a good book was an instant escape to a mystical land that could be reached anytime and from anyplace.

Amazon Author Page / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Website

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Crimson Midnight by Amos Cassidy

Rose has a nagging feeling that there is something more for her, that she is something more than what she believes herself to be. She longs for something different in her life, something exciting and out there. So, with a goodbye to her father, she, along with her friend Faye, heads off to London, to stay at her Aunt Flo's house while she is figuring out what she wants her life to be.

Sparks soon fly when she meets Roman, Flo's adopted son. However, a problem arises when she befriends Roman's "girlfriend" Thistle. *You will find out if you read this book why I put quotes around the word girlfriend.* Everything seems all hunky-dory, until a mysterious demon creature that vomits black stuff tries to attack Rose and Thistle. That is the very moment Rose's true self shines through.

After a scare with magic she never knew she even possessed, Rose finds out the secrets of the world around her. The secrets of the people she thought she knew. The secrets of a world kept hidden from mortal eyes.

I ABSOLUTELY loved this book. I was AMAZING!!! There is really nothing bad to say. It has twists, turns, humor, seriousness, a wedding, magic, supernaturals, EVERYTHING that I could ever want in a paranormal story all rolled up into one. READ THIS!!! You will love it!

The Deceived by S.K.N. Hammerstone

The Rift (Book #1) left me very excited to read this second book of the Vessel Full of Souls series, because it ended with its main character, Rachael, going evil (or at least, being controlled by her "trainer" Elizabeth) and revealing her pregnant state. At that point, the father of her baby is pretty well implied so the main thing I wondered was how Rachael was going to end up getting out of her controlled environment and become the great ruler she is supposed to be. (You know, the nice, non-bloodlustful ruler. Is that too much to ask?) I guess it is, because there were so many twists and turns with this second installment, that I did not know where to turn.

I am not even going to mention the first twist that occurs, or one of the first at least, because there is nothing I would be able to say without giving it away. But let's just say it is a surprise no one saw coming. Well, actually I do not know if that is true, but Elizabeth didn't see it coming anyway and that's the important thing.

Second twist. Well, it is not exactly a twist, but it was making me a tad angry at the story. A good angry, because I just wanted to read more. I wouldn't exactly call it betrayal, but people (or should I say Angels and Demons) are kind of starting to show their true colors. They are parting ways, doing things that will benefit them and theirs, revealing hidden identities, etc. Things that just seem to make this story even better and allow it to grow exponentially.

I actually think I put more than one twist into that last paragraph, but I will continue on.

Overall, this book was A LOT darker than the last. It had a more serious tone to it as the characters (both good and bad) attempt to take control. I love second books in a series because since there is really no backstory to get through, you see more of who each character is and how the situations they are put in affect them.

Sadly, I do not think the third one of this series is out yet, but I am eagerly awaiting its arrival. I desperately have to know what happens. How the story ends up playing out and whether or not good really can prevail in such a late state of the game.

Crossed by Ally Condie

Cassia, Ky, and Xander are back in this sequel to Ally Condie's book Matched. But there is a slight twist from the first book. This second is written from two points of view. Cassia's and Ky's.

We start off with Ky. After being taken from the Borough by the Society near the end of the first book, we find that he is now in the Outer Provinces. He is one of many "decoys," people living in towns to trick the Society's Enemy into thinking those towns are truly inhabited. They are told to plant cotton, to give the impression of a flourishing community. But all that comes is fire. Fire rains down on these "decoys" bringing death and destruction. Ky is the strongest of some of these "decoys." He bands together with another boy, to bury the dead. However, he cannot forget Cassia no matter how bad it gets where he is. She is the light in his darkness, Her memory gives him the strength to run away, with two others, from the decoy town and into the unrelenting wilderness of The Carving. A place that will bring back memories, both good and bad, of his past.

Cassia is on a search to find Ky. She cannot let him go without finding him again. So, with some cunning tactics, she lands a spot on an airship traveling to the Outer Provinces. This ship is taking a fresh band of "decoys" to a town, to replace those who are dead. Once there, Cassia searches desperately for any sign of Ky. But to no avail. He is not there. However, she soon comes across someone who knew of where he ran to. Someone who longs to also run.

With the help of a newfound friend, Cassia heads to The Carving herself to find any sign of the boy she loves. 

Along this journey, though, she may find more than she bargained for.

As for Xander, we find he is still in love with Cassia. But, as her search for Ky becomes more and more a part of her, how long will his one-sided love last?

I loved the point of view thing in this book. It was a fresh take on the story, giving us a chance to know Ky better. More of his story was told in this one, which I really thought was great. He is still a mystery, but not so much as he was in Matched.

Xander...let's now talk about him. I have a feeling that there is more to come from him in the third book. There's just something about him that halfway makes me not trust him.

*puts hands around face defensively* Sorry for those of you who like him, I think he is a nice guy, I just don't trust him.

Overall, this book was good. I just probably would have benefited better if I would have reread the first book to refresh my memory. CAN'T WAIT TO READ THE THIRD IN THE SERIES!

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

Reynie Muldoon, George "Sticky" Washington, Kate Wetherall, and Constance Contraire are three children on a mission. A mission to save the world from a most terrible fate.

When these four ace a test designed to weed out the best of the best, the cleverest of the clever, and the most imaginative of Imaginations, they have no idea what truly adventurous adventures they are in for.

They soon meet the creator of the test they took part in, a Mr. Benedict. Mr. Benedict is a man who has been on a search for some children to take on his mission for some time. Even though past years of the test have brought him one or two kids, he has never found a suitable group...until now.

Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance have the qualities to outsmart even the most cunning of adults. Which is why Mr. Benedict wastes no time in bringing them up to speed on what he is going to ask of them for their first mission.

They must infiltrate a most horrific of schools. The Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened. Once inside, they will need to be their most cunning, their most brave, and their most deceptive in order to figure out the school's true purpose.

With help from morse code, spies in disguise, and a lot of teamwork they will prove to Mr. Benedict and, most importantly, to themselves that they were chosen rightly so for the task at hand.

I have loved this series ever since picking up the third book in the bargain box at my local bookstore a couple of years ago. So, it was a grand thing to finally be able to start from the beginning. This book had no lack of excitement or adventure. No lack of entertainment value or heart. I loved every minute of it, and completely recommend this for both the young and the young at heart.

Cellar Full of Cole by Micheal Maxwell

Cole Sage is back in this latest installment of the Cole Sage mystery series by Micheal Maxwell.

Since the death of his love, Cole Sage has reinvented his life. He has lost weight, changed his attitude, and ultimately regained his faith in his own writing. It seems like everything is coming together like clockwork, and Cole could not be happier. So, when he has an offer to go work for a paper in San Francisco all it takes is the knowledge that he will be close to his newly found daughter and her family for him to agree immediately to the change in scenery.

However, it seems that his welcome will be a new mystery to solve. But this time, there's murder involved.

Little girls are being killed throughout the City by the Bay. The police think it may just be random, but Cole finds the connecting factor that concludes there is a serial killer somewhere. But the killer may be much closer than he thinks.

Can Cole put his sleuthing skills to good use and find who did this before other girls are killed? Or will his snooping finally be the end of him.

I loved this latest installment in the series. There was a happier feeling in this one, with Cole not weighed down by his past. AND you also get to experience what the killer experiences in this one. As the killer finds their next victim, you will delve into their mind and see their true reasonings behind these killings.

There is actually two mysteries to solve in this one, which seemingly become interconnected. While there is only one killer, there is also an acquaintance to the killer that is involved in something just as bad as the killings themselves. Involving children, of course.

There was a faster pace throughout this newest book that did not wane at all, and I cannot wait for more of Maxwell's work.

The Garnet Dagger by Andrea R. Cooper

Brock is an elf who is fascinated by humans. So much so, that he has observed them for many of his years and has learned much of their language and ways. But when he encounters one suddenly on his way back home from travelling to yet another human village, he cannot suspect the trouble that will come of their meeting.

The human, much to Brock’s surprise, is a vampyre, and it seems that Brock’s life may soon be at an end when the vampyre begins to feed from him. However, something strange begins to happen. Because Brock is not human, the effects of the feeding are not the same. In fact, it seems that Brock is sucking the life out the vampyre. Neither knows what is going on until it is too late and the vampire lay dead.

Brock arrives back home, still reeling from the shock of what happened. He decides to go on a private search for some answers, heading down into the vaults where only a select few have access. But the vaults hold only a cryptic message for Brock, and with the sudden appearance of his betrothed he searches for someone to confide in. But tragedy soon strikes, and the message finally becomes clear to Brock, bringing a monstrous reality in its wake.

The fate of his people is in his hands, so with his sudden exile to the human lands, armed with a garnet dagger that will aid him in his quest, Brock goes on a search for the one person that could allow his people to survive. A witch.

The Garnet Dagger was an interesting story to start, because I have never pictured the world of elves along with vampyres. It never occurred to me that these two concepts can go together so wonderfully, but they do. I commend the author on this. Throughout the story, I never felt a lack of substance, every word and sentence hooked me and made me want to read more.

This book is definitely recommended for those who love fantasy, prophecies, elves, humans, witches, evil torturing monks…the whole she-bang.

Follow Andrea Cooper on:

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Gorgeous New Book By Gena Showalter

Okay, so I must admit that I am a Showalter virgin. That's right, everybody, I have never, EVER, read a book by Gena Showalter. In fact, I think this year is the first year that I have gotten to know her work. And unsurprisingly, I am hooked.

I actually got to know more about her and some of her characters from a blog tour that was going on all of last month. Her Through the Zombie Glass tour where you had to find the white rabbit on each blog host's site to gain access to a big giveaway going on. I participated every single day, and had so much fun being introduced to her writing. Through that tour, I also got to know more about a new book of hers that will be released October 22 of this year. It is called Black and Blue. Ultimately, I was pulled in by the cover. Here, let me show you.

Gorgeous, right?

After seeing the cover, I immediately had to know about this seemingly mysterious character on the cover. And the book blurb told me all I needed to know, well enough to make me want to buy this book immediately when it comes out. So without further ado, here is the blurb.

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter's pulse-pounding paranormal series continues with an electrifying story about the ultimate warrior and his prize: a beautiful woman he will do anything to possess.

HE IS EVERY WOMAN’S FANTASY. . .
Corbin Blue is a man of many talents. One of the most powerful otherworlders ever born, he is wealthy, a professional football star, and a legend in the bedroom. But only a select few know he is also a black ops agent...and there is no better killer. When he and his crew are attacked and separated, he’s forced to turn to his boss’s daughter for help―a woman with even more secrets than Blue.

. . .SHE BECOMES HIS ONLY OBSESSION
Evangeline Black has always been wary, guarded. No man has ever breeched her walls. Until Blue. He has never been denied something he wants, and now, he’s decided he wants her. As he sweeps her into his double life of seduction, intrigue, and danger, he helps her see beyond the darkness of her past. But as an enemy closes in, Blue will have to let Evie go to keep her safe—even though he'd rather die than live without her…

Aagh! Why does the release date have to be so far away!!! I want it now!!! (channel selfish girl from Willy Wonka)

Since I cannot wait, and I know you guys cannot either, here are the sites where you can pre-order it.

Amazon / Kindle / Barnes / Nook / BAM / S&S / Indie Bound / iBookstore

Happy Reading!

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Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today best selling author of the White Rabbit Chronicles, Otherworld Assassins, Angels of the Dark, and Lords of the Underworld series.  She has written over forty novels and novellas.  Her books have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazine, and have been translated in multiple languages. 

Viking Fire by Andrea R. Cooper

Kaireen, an auburn-haired beauty with a fiery temper to match, is furious with the marriage that looms ever closer in her future. It is not the marriage itself that angers her so, but her match. He is a Viking, a Lochlann, and in Kaireen's eyes this does not bode well. She sees the Lochlanns as no good and untrustworthy. She even sees him as a possible spy, infiltrating her family's lands. However, what her mind thinks and what her body thinks could mean an internal struggle for her once she sets eyes on her betrothed.

Bram is a man who knows what he wants, and he wants Kaireen. He tells her time and time again that they will marry, and seems to see through her protestations. This aggravates Kaireen to no end, causing her to want to resist him even more. However, a series of events will soon begin to change her mind.

This series of events is caused by the corrupted ways of one person. An enemy who is bent on seeing the destruction of Kaireen and her family's rule and who will not stop until this is fulfilled.

Bram could be the saving grace. But will he risk his life for a woman who wants so desperately to deny him?

I love this book so much. It has fire to it, and action. It is probably unlike a lot of the romances I have read before. I love the inner struggle for Kaireen as her body fights her mind regarding Bram. The way Bram kind of goads her at times regarding this struggle is priceless. But, even through all the goading, you can tell he truly does want to marry her. He truly does care for her, but it is all up to her to decide her own true feelings.

I recommend Viking Fire to anyone who loves romance and a fight, because you will definitely get both.

To see the book trailer and find out more about the author, visit: http://journeywithbooks.blogspot.com/2013/09/guest-book-review-viking-fire-by-andrea.html