Shardfall by Paul E. Horsman

When a strange stone seems to fall from the sky and lands at the top of the Silfjall mountain near Eidungruve Hold, it sets a string of events in motion that could change lives forever.

Muus is a thrall, a lowly companion to Prince Kjelle. Captured and brought to live with the Nords as a boy, he has a past he cannot remember and so must deal with the fate life has dealt him. But fate has more in store for him than he realizes.

When the prince is called by his father to investigate the matter of the strange stone at the top of the mountain, he has Muus come with him. When they arrive at the sight of the landing, Muus' courage in the face of the unknown causes him to pick up the stone, causing the stone to choose him for a destiny that will take him back to his home. His true home. The home he was taken from and now barely remembers. Throughout his journey, he is going to learn more about himself, the legend of this stone he now holds, and the magic buried deep within.

I quite enjoyed this book. Fantasy is a genre that I absolutely believe can take your breath away, if done right. This book had very vivid scenes, and I love the storyline. It seemed a quick read to me once I got about a chapter or so in, and I couldn't put it down. Will absolutely read the second book to this series, and also am anxiously awaiting the release of the third book.

Wonderful start to this series.

Cloaked in Fur by T.F. Walsh

Okay, so I have absolutely no bad things to say about this book whatsoever. Nothing. Zip. Nada...You get my point.

From the very first page to the last, this book drew me in. It had me by its wolf claws, and kept a tight grip on me until I flew through the pages like nobody's business. It would not let go until I read every word.

Daciana is a girl with a secret. A secret of paranormal proportions. She is a moonwulf on the verge of her final change into a full wulfkin. However, she only longs for normalcy, humanity, and a happy life with her human boyfriend, Connell. Now, Connell knows nothing about her little secret, and Daci hopes to keep it that way. Until she can find the elixir that could change her completely human, anyway. But that might take a bit longer than expected.

It seems there have been killings around her area. Killings of people she has known, and the police seem to have only one main suspect at the present time...her. This does not bode well for her and Connell's relationship considering he works for the police and she has been disappearing mysteriously for quite a few nights with no word to Connell as to her whereabouts.

Daci knows the identity of the true killer. But she cannot reveal its identity without also revealing what she herself is.

This book was AWESOME! It reminded me of Moonlight (you know, the show with the vampire in it who works with the police?), mainly because of the whole paranormal creature helping out the police with a case thing. There is so much to this book. It is all meat and potatoes, and I love that. There is an excitement to this book. And, since it is also a romance, there is a perfect blend of action and romance. I love when there is a perfect blend. 

I could talk about this book all day, but will basically sum the rest of my words up into one sentence. READ THIS FOR YOURSELVES! You will definitely know what I am talking about when you pick up this book and dive right in.

Skipping Stones by J.B. McGee

Wow. Just wow. You know, when I first read the blurb to J.B. McGee’s book,Skipping Stones, I honestly had no idea what I was in for. I knew there would be a bit of romance, but there is also a dash of heartbreak and uncertainty mixed in with a heaping spoonful of hope. Hope that life gets better. That the hurt we experience throughout our journey will ultimately be worth it when all the good finally decides to come rushing in…

Alex Hart is just your normal, average fifteen-year-old girl with a family who loves her unconditionally. But when a trip to her grandparents’ house turns into a life-changing tragedy, she no longer sees the comfort and familiarity of the things around her. Everything is turned upside-down, and she does not know which way to turn.

Drew Foster seems to appear out of thin air in Alex’s eyes when she goes for a walk to try and escape her pain and sadness. At first, she just wants him to go away, but his genuine concern for her and his promise to teach her to skip stones overrides this initial feeling of hers, and she gradually allows herself to open up to him. They become almost inseparable, and their love seems so strong. However, this is not to last, because Drew seems to disappear just as quickly as he manifested.

Why did he go? Where did he go? Were all his feelings for her true, or was he just playing her? These are all questions that Alex must face in the years to come. But as she tries to answer them herself, and tries in her mind to forget Drew, her heart still longs for him, aching for his very presence once again.

This book was phenomenal. It went from the present, where we first meet Alex at about age thirty reminiscing as she heads back home, to the past, where we see a bit of her first encounter with the love she had and lost at fifteen, back to the present, where we see how she copes with trying to forget him and get on with her life, which gets very hard when at one point she believes he has come back to her and no one else seems to believe her.

I am reminded of true love with this book. The idea that two souls can be apart for so long, but yet still long for each other is beautifully brought to life throughout the pages of this work. Honestly, I don’t have a tendency to cry with books, but this one almost did it. That is a pretty big deal.

This book was from the heart. It was endearing, heartbreaking, and lovely all rolled into one. I will definitely be looking up J.B. McGee’s other works.

Recommended for anyone who loves the idea of being given a second chance with the one you thought lost forever.

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.

Goodreads / Paperback / Kindle / B&N / Kobo / Smashwords

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.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords
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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...

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes and Noble

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.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes and Noble

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.

Goodreads / Amazon US / Amazon UK / Barnes and Noble / Nook UK / Book Trailer

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.