Review: Waterfell by Amalie Howard

Waterfell

(Aquarathi, #1)

Amelie Howard

1.0/5.0 stars

Disclaimer: At 62% I gave up torturing myself and just skimmed the rest of it.

I tried sooo hard but I just couldn't do it guys. I kept on reading thinking praying this would get better. But it got to the point where I either skimmed it or my head was going to start spinning like the exorcist chick. I wish I could say something nice about this book but I hated everything about it.

Waterfell is about Nerissa, an Aquarathi (basically a sea monster) princess who came onto land when her parents died. She is afraid of the responsibility of being the Queen and the potential threats she would face. So her plan is to stay on land and just play human forever.

Nerissa -I think I hate Rissa more than any other MC I've ever read. She was selfish, immature, petty and a whole bunch of other bad adjectives. She doesn't want to take on the responsibility of being a queen but she sure has no qualms with acting like a spoiled little princess and tossing her royalty into her companions' faces to get her way. Anytime she was in any "danger" I was hoping she'd get hurt. In fact, I wanted to jump through the book myself and punch her in the face every few pages. I was sooo frustrated by how clueless she is. She whines and angsts out over bs while ignoring obvious things a ten year old could figure out.

Lotharius Seavon- Lotharious. Seavon. *eyeroll* seriously? I don't know how naming him that ever seemed like a good idea. I also don't see why comparing his hair to wet sand is a good thing, but I digress. He's a competitive surfer from Hawaii who is the object of Rissa's affection obsession. He was supposedly cocky and arrogant in what I think was supposed to be a Daemon-esque way but he just ended up being bland. The only cocky thing he really did was smile smugly and make an occasional quip that wasn't even that sharp.

The other characters all seem designed to make plot devices happen. They all praise Rissa and show her loyalty that I think is supposed to make me think she's awesome, cuz hey- she has to be for these people to love her, right? Or in one of their cases make Lo seem like something special. Because they don't easily like new people so he must just instinctually know this new kid is cool. Once in a blue moon one of them will finally call her out on her bs but then they apologize almost immediately after. *headdesk*

Cara- the arch-nemesis and former best friend. She was the first reason I hated Rissa. Rissa talks nonstop about how horrible and mean she is. Problem is- Rissa is actually the horrible mean one. Cara's reason for ending their friendship is completely understandable, Rissa continues to antagonize her and all Cara does is give her dirty looks. In one of the first scenes (while they are in a game with their field hockey team) Rissa refuses to pass to her out of petty spite while telling us how mean and immature Cara is. Umm....WHAT??? I still don't understand where the author was going with the Rissa/Cara thing. It just made me hate Rissa more and more.

The romance- I don't even know whether to laugh or slam my head into the table a few times to see if I can erase it from my memory. This is instalove hell. She sees him and his wet sand hair and is like OhMiGaaawd but she doesn't want to like him so she acts like a total bitch. She's mad if he's trying to talk to her but she's mad if he isn't. If he even acknowledges another female exists she's livid but she lashes out at him anytime he so much as glances at her. So much angst for no reason and it takes over the entire plot. No, scratch that, it basically is the whole plot.

Plot twists- Smfh. I saw everything coming from ten miles away. The fact that Nerissa didn't just made me even more agitated with her. Hello, stop angsting and whining for five seconds and you might actually see what's going on. Also- the names...*headdesk*.

I hate writing negative reviews but there was just nothing redeemable about this for me. I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone unless you love instalove and ridiculous angst.

The Second Sign and The Second Shadow by Elizabeth Arroyo

The Second Sign

Elizabeth Arroyo

3.5/5.0

The Second Shadow

Elizabeth Arroyo

4.5/5.0

I was super nervous about this series.  I absolutely loved the blurbs for both of the books, so of course, I caved and requested both of them.  I kinda forgot about it and then... I got approved.  That's when I suddenly realized just how many times I had picked up a book about angels/demons and then absolutely hated it.  However, I said I'd do it, and I put on my big girl panties and hunkered down.  

I started reading the books and I realized that, I, in fact, didn't like these books..... 

I ABSOLUTELY FRIGGIN' LOVED THEM!!!!

They seriously embody everything I love in a book.  They are dark, gritty, intense, and should totally come with a warning label or two.  Some of the scenes in this book read like a horror movie.  Not one of those cheesy horror movies you watch and laugh about, but like a for real horror flick.  I actually attempted to start reading this before I went to bed one night and had to put it down because I found myself doing this:

Only my other hand was still trying to hold the book above the blankie peek hole so I could still read.

I made myself put it down, and attempted to sleep... only to end up waking up every hour with some seriously wicked nightmares.  

However, once daylight hit, I was back to reading in full force and actually read through both books in one day.  They were THAT good.  

I really loved the main characters.  Gabby has such a messed up life and bad luck follows her everywhere.  I love that she doesn't let it tear her down, and instead it just makes her stronger.  Jake is a bit tricky.  One minute I was all about Jake, and then the next I wanted to stab him with a spork and watch him bleed out slowly.  It was kind of a fun ride though.  My favorite character in the whole series has got to be Jose however, because Jose is freaking awesome.  He's got a serious streak of bad-ass and his humor provided some seriously well placed comic relief.  He might just be a supporting character, but he seriously stole the spotlight for me.  If you asked me for a list of my favorite lines, almost all of them would be Jose's.  

The story line, the pacing, the intensity, everything - was perfect.  It's a very, very well written series, and I highly, highly recommend you read it.

GIVEAWAY AND EXCERPT!!! Fallen by Laury Falter

Book & Author Details:

Fallen by Laury Falter
Publication date: April 1st 2009
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Fallen – the first book in the bestselling Guardian Trilogy…

Maggie is unaware of the terrifying fate that awaits her. It isn’t until she lands in New Orleans for a full year at a private high school and her unknown enemies find her does she realize that her life is in danger.

As a mystifying stranger repeatedly intervenes and blocks the attempts on her life, she begins to learn that there is more to him than his need to protect her and that he may be the key to understanding why her enemies have just now arrived.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8376729-fallen?ac=1

Purchase:

--Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Guardian-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B00280MFEY/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1358172824&sr=1---B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fallen-laury-falter/1030634673?ean=2940012375438
--Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/274357

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AUTHOR BIO:

Laury Falter is a bestselling author of young adult romantic suspense and urban fantasy. She has three series out: the Guardian Trilogy, the Residue Series, and the Apocalypse Chronicles.

To learn more about Laury and her novels, visit her at:
Website: lauryfalter.com
Twitter page: twitter.com/LauryFalter
Facebook page: facebook.com/pages/Laury-Falter/196033543803745
Goodreads page: goodreads.com/author/show/4061922.Laury_Falter

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Excerpt:

 

“I apologize for the delay, Abaddon.”

I turned my head to find Eran standing beside me, no more than a few inches away.

Excitement swelled inside me, so powerful I couldn’t have contained it if I’d wanted to. The nervousness now displayed on Abaddon’s face gave me even stronger encouragement.

I wanted so desperately to reach out and wrap my arms around Eran, wanted it more than anything in the world. My desperate yearning was only being held back because I still couldn’t move.

I’m not sure Eran would have allowed it anyways. He was a warrior, and he was now engaged in battle. Besides, I was nothing more to him than someone to save.

Eran didn’t look my way but kept his focus on Abaddon, who stepped back a few paces, his confidence faltering.

It was Sarai who strolled forward, self-assured, placing herself in the middle.  

As she strolled by Abaddon, she mused, “Don’t worry, I believe I can handle this one.” Her face curled up into a hideous grin as she continued her approach.

I knew then what she planned…but it was too late.

“Eran, so good to see you again…” she whispered in a low drawl.

“No!” I screamed enraged, waiting for Eran to fall to the ground, whimpering with desperation as Rufus had done.

Eran remained standing.

A moment passed and Sarai’s face contorted, confusion setting in. Her state of shock became more defined, deepening further when he finally replied.

“You don’t work on me, Sarai…” I watched in disbelief as his gorgeous smirk, the one I missed so deeply, rose up. Eran turned and his stunning eyes settled on me, concentrating so intently I could not have mistaken his message. “I’m already in love.”

The world changed for me at that moment. As Eran’s confession hung in the air, I felt the passion and the power in me swell. Nothing was impossible now.

Sarai’s mouth fell open, a shaken sigh escaping. She then looked at me, her eyes narrowing in fury as Eran’s words sunk in.

Eran flippantly disregarded her, turning to address Abaddon. “You are outnumbered. You are overpowered. You have allowed yourself to be cornered. Shoddy work, Abaddon.”

As I watched their interaction, it dawned on me that Eran was enjoying this moment and that it appeared to have been long overdue. I felt a smile on my lips, nearly causing me to giggle.

It was then Abaddon released me. I fell to the ground, hitting it hard but overwhelmed with relief. I glanced up, wondering what power Eran had over Abaddon to give up his hold on me.

In an instant, I realized what had happened.

Abaddon had let me go willingly. He needed his energy – all of it – for another reason…

Leaning forward, Abaddon’s arms extended, his feet sweeping up from the ground, as he lunged for Eran.

----

GIVEAWAY !!!!

 

COVER REVEAL: Lost Hope by Frankie Rose

We are so excited to be a part of the cover reveal for Frankie Rose's latest book Lost Hope!!!  She is one of my favorite authors! If you haven't checked her out before, I highly recommend that you do!

Title: Lost Hope (Hope #3)

Author: Frankie Rose

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Expected Release Date: January 15, 2014

Hosted By: Love Between the Sheets

Add to Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/ book/show/18012687-lost-hope

Synopsis

“How Many Miles To Babylon?” “Threescore and Ten.” “Can I Get There by Candlelight?” “Yes, and back again. If your heels be nimble and light, you may get there by candlelight.” London 1891 Two boys meet in a foggy, darkened alleyway in London. Poised to fight, they recognise a quality in each other that stays their hands: they’re different. Not human. Well, not entirely, anyway. The universe, God, Kismet…something brought them together, forged a bond between them as strong as brothers’, and even they know it has to be for a reason. London Present Day Daniel and Kayden are cut from the same cloth. Their lives, their histories are so intertwined and tangled together that the last fifty years they’ve been at each other’s throats have seemed like an eternity. For Kayden, it’s been a punishment. For Daniel, a painful burden. Now that circumstances have drawn them back to London once more, repairing the bridges they’d once burned to the ground is taking time. Time they don’t have. Farley Hope is used to things going wrong. Epically wrong. A dead mother; a half-brother who recently went on a killing spree and refuses to come out of his room; a friend whose body has been hijacked by a malevolent, powerful being… All of that would be bad enough, but considering her brooding boyfriend hasn’t brought up the fact that she agreed to marry him in weeks…her run of bad luck is really starting to take its toll. Things had better start looking up, otherwise her new-found powers are going to be put to use, and there’s no guaranteeing what will be getting blown up.

This is where it all began.

Where chance meetings set an unstoppable

chain of events in motion.

How a prophecy came to be realised.

How Lost Hope was found.

About the Author

Frankie Rose was born in the United Kingdom, but now lives with her husband in sunny Australia.

She officially makes things up for a living, and when she's not doing that, she is generally making paper birds out of receipts and old lists or taking photographs that make her smile.

Connect with Frankie

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Other Books in the Hope Series

Sovereign Hope (Hope #1)

Add to Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13645671-sovereign- hope

Buy the Book for Only $0.99

Amazon

Everyone has a soul

Some are just worth more than others

Farley Hope was seventeen when her mother disappeared. In the last six months not much has changed, except that her eighteenth birthday came and went and still no sign of Moira. Her life is just as complicated as it always was. Since her father died in a car crash before she was even born, she’s officially parentless, and to top it all off she’s still suffering from the hallucinations. Mind-splitting, vivid hallucinations- the kind prone to induce night terrors and leave you whimpering under your covers like a baby.

The last thing on her mind is boys. Farley is on break from St. Judes’ when she meets Daniel. It’s not some casual run in at a party, or even a blind date with friends, though. Daniel is the guy following her in his 1970′s Dodge Charger; the guy standing at her window in the LA lunch hour traffic, trying to persuade her to leave everything behind and follow him. And he's hot as all hell. 

The moment Farley lays eyes on Daniel, everything changes. He is cold and withdrawn, but there are cracks in his harsh veneer- cracks that betray the secrets he is trying so hard to hide. Farley is drawn into a world that will shake apart everything she thought she ever knew. There are truths out there that she must learn: that a person’s soul is their only real currency, and there are people who would do anything to take hers; that loving someone can hurt so much more than hating them; but, most importantly, when your future is predestined, there is little you can do to change it.

Farley Hope is prophesied.

Her coming has been awaited for hundreds of years.

She is destined to end the tyranny of the Soul Reavers.

To do so she must die.

Eternal Hope (Hope #2)

Add to Goodreads

https:/ /www.goodreads.com/book/show/15741338-eternal-hope

Buy the Book for Only $0.99

Amazon

He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me

When your friends go missing and you don’t know if they’re dead or alive; when you tie your soul to the one you love; when you kill to protect and your family suffers, there’s only one thing you can do:

Move to Montana.

Farley Hope is special. She was prophesied to kill the forebears of her bloodline- a race of cold-blooded Reavers, men who steal the souls of the living to gain power. The Quorum had counted on Farley ending her own life in the process, but when Kayden came to her aid and helped save both her and Daniel, he undid their plans. Now the Quorum are displeased, not only with Kayden, but with Farley and Daniel too. Though her father is now dead, Farley’s troubles with the Reavers are far from over. An ancient Immortal, trapped for a thousand years, wants Farley for himself, and he will stop at nothing to claim her.

With secrets that lead to anger and pain, that turn friendship to dust, the group must overcome the problems within their own circle before they have a hope of fighting off the powers that threaten their lives.

BLITZ: GIVEAWAY AND EXCERPT - COUNTING SHADOWS BY OLIVIA RIVERS

Book & Author Details:

Counting Shadows by Olivia Rivers

(Duplicity #1)

Publication date: June 30th 2013

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

 

Synopsis:

Two hearts, one kiss…

…Nothing left.

Faye’s soul-mate is everything she should hate—an Angel, an outcast, an enemy. Ashe is just one more imperfection in her life that somehow makes everything… perfect.

Until he’s murdered.

With the only person she loves ripped away, Faye sets out to avenge Ashe’s death. The task seems impossible, until she finds Lor—an Angel who looks nearly identical to Ashe’s killer. Arrogant and hot-headed, Lor is everything Ashe wasn’t. But Lor is connected to her soul-mate’s past, and Faye needs him to find the killer—even if Lor is potentially deadly.

But when Faye discovers that Ashe’s past isn’t as black and white as she thought, she faces an impossible choice: Give up the hunt, and risk the lives of others. Or continue pursuing Ashe’s murderer, and forfeit the lives of everyone in her family—including herself.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18132530-counting-shadows?ac=1

Purchase:

—Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Counting-Shadows-Duplicity-Olivia-Rivers-ebook/dp/B00DQIBZLQ

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Excerpt: Counting Shadows by Olivia Rivers

I face a dark cell, one far from any window and trapped in shadows. I take a step toward it, and then back, unable to see anyone in the darkness.
Then a figure steps forward into a faint patch of light, and I let out a choked sound.
It’s him.
Young, about my own age. Tanned skin. Muscular and well-built, but taller than any Irradorian. Sharp facial features, strong jaw, and the scar that runs from his right eyebrow down to his bottom lip—
The scar. It’s not there. I frantically scan the man’s face another time, but the scar is still missing.
The man in front of me raises an eyebrow and leans against the bars of his cell. “You like something you see?”
“No,” I blurt out.
I don’t like this. I hate this. This man looks exactly like Ashe’s killer, but… he’s not. As I look over him a second time, I notice a few more subtle differences; this man is a little taller than Ashe’s killer, a little younger, and he has a tattoo on his collarbone. I can only see a portion of the black ink, but it’s enough to prove this isn’t who I’m looking for. Ashe’s killer didn’t have any tattoos.
But maybe he just got the tattoo after he killed Ashe. Maybe… No. He could gain a tattoo, but he could never lose a scar.
This isn’t the man I’ve been searching for.
The man in the cell hisses in a breath, reminding me that I said something offensive. “Ouch.” The way he speaks reminds me of Farren’s sarcastic drawl, only this man’s is much more practiced. He has a slight accent that somehow manages to make his husky voice sound elegant, but it just makes me shudder. His voice sounds so much like Ashe’s killer’s. “That hurts, sweetheart. Like an arrow through the heart. Words can kill, you know.”
My chest constricts, knowing how right he is. Knowing he knows how right he is. It was words that killed Ashe, just a few whispers in the ear of Father. And, somehow, this man is tied to that.
I glare at him, doing my best to look intimidating, despite the shivers crawling over my skin. “What’s your name?”
He bows deeply, the motion even more sarcastic than his words. “My name is Lor. At your service, sweetheart.” He looks up and winks. “Any service.”
“I’m not here to play games with you,” I growl.
“Too bad.”
“I want to know right now. What part are you playing in this? How do you know my Guardian’s killer? What did you have to gain from his death?” I gasp in air, suddenly out of breath.
Lor tilts his head and stares at me for a long moment, his eyebrows raised in amusement. “You know,” he says, his voice softening to a tone that’s darkly patronizing. “Where I come from, it’s considered rather rude to come barging into someone’s prison cell and accuse them of murder. That’s usually done before the whole incarceration thing.”

AUTHOR BIO:

Olivia Rivers is the author of five novels, ranging in genres from Epic Fantasy to Contemporary Romance. Along with being a writer, she’s a freelance digital artist, a literary agent assistant, and a high school student. She’s a nerd at heart, and is a hopeless fan-girl for Doctor Who and Pokémon. Olivia lives in California with a dog who thinks he’s a cat, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, and a kitten who is just generally confused. 

Author Links:

Website: http://oliviarivers.blogspot.ca/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6548741.Olivia_Rivers

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RiversOlivia

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BITTER SWEET LOVE BY JENNIFER ARMENTROUT RELEASE DAY LAUNCH

Jennifer L. Armentrout's amazing novella in her new The Dark Elements Series, BITTER SWEET LOVE, is out and we are excited to join in the release day launch for it. BITTER SWEET LOVE is the Prequel Novella for The Dark Elements Series and is full of Wardens, fantasy, and romance. The first novel in the series, WHITE HOT KISS, will be released February 25, 2014. Check out what we have for you today! There's also a fantastic excerpt for you to check out below!

EXCERPT:

Moving lightning fast, Dez shifted and I was suddenly underneath him. His arms were on either side of my head, caging me in. Our bodies didn’t touch, but I felt him to the tips of my toes anyway.

                The teasing grin disappeared when I dragged in a deep breath and my chest brushed his. Everything changed in an instant. The playful mood faded, replaced by primal heaviness. Our gazes collided and locked. Neither of us moved. His closeness sent a series of shivers skittering across my skin and made it hard to take slow, even breaths. My body tensed when his gaze dropped to my mouth.

                He tilted his head to the side. “I… I honestly have no idea what we were talking about.”

                “Good. Neither do I.”

                He shifted his weight onto one arm, bring him closer. “Have you enjoyed your trip so far?”

                “Yes.” I felt as if I couldn’t get enough air into my lungs.

                “Good.” He lowered his head. His breath was minty as it moved across my cheek and then my lips. “I’m glad.”

                I wasn’t really following the conversation and I wasn’t sure that he was fully aware of what was coming out of his mouth. I searched my hazy brain for something to say and wet my lips. I-

                The sound that came out of Dez’s chest rumbled through me. A stuttered heartbeat passed and then his lips were on mine. There was nothing slow about this kiss. It scorched my skin and caused my body to stretch tight like a bowstring. The kiss deepened, spinning my senses. I shuddered when his hand curved over my shoulder and drifted down to my waist, his long fingers spreading out under the hem of my shirt, grazing the bare skin of my stomach.

                I gasped, floored by the raw sensations pounding through my blood. My skin felt as if I was about to phase. Maybe I was.

                “Jasmine,” he whispered, the word falling against my lips, and then his body was pressing mine into the mattress, heavy, sweet and hard.

*Amazon*     *Barnes and Noble*     *iTunes*

ABOUT BITTER SWEET LOVE (The Dark Elements #.5):

In a sizzling prequel novella to her new series The Dark Elements, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout draws readers into the extraordinary, irresistible world of Wardens and demons.

Dez wasn't just Jasmine's crush. A gargoyle Warden like Jas, he helped her come to terms with her destiny—fending off demons and maintaining the balance between good and evil. He was her everything…right until the moment he disappeared without a trace. It didn't help that Jas's father had just announced that she and Dez would one day be mated. Hard not to take that personally.

And now he's back, three years older, ten times hotter, ready to pick up exactly where they left off. But Jas isn't taking that risk again. Dez has seven days to meet all her conditions and earn back her trust. Seven days filled with terrifying danger and sweet temptation. Seven days to win her heart—or shatter it all over again…

Don't miss White Hot Kiss, book one in Jennifer L. Armentrout's The Dark Elements series from Harlequin TEEN!

About Jennifer L. Armentrout:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Links:
Website

Twitter
Facebook
BITTER SWEET LOVE Goodreads
WHITE HOT KISS Goodreads
Jennifer L. Armentrout Goodreads
Jennifer L. Armentrout Amazon

WHITE HOT KISS Buy Links:
AMAZON
BARNES AND NOBLE
iTUNES

 

Happy Halloween! Celebrate with The October Trilogy by Heather Killough-Walden!

I recently stumbled upon Suddenly Sam, the newly released third book in The October Trilogy by Heather Killough-Walden.  Which combines quite a few obsessions loves of mine: Halloween, paranormal, and young adult.  Apparently I have been living underneath a rock and have completely missed a series that practically has my name written on it.  So for those of you who have been hanging out under the rock with me, I'm going to give you a Halloween treat and let you know about it.  If you're really nice and agree to share your Halloween candy with me (none of those taffy things either!) I may even include a teaser for you.

Suddenly Sam

The October Trilogy, Book Three

Samhain is running out of time. When the clock strikes midnight on Halloween, the door to his realm will close forever, and any precious hope he possessed of winning the heart of the woman he would choose as queen will vanish along with October. A desperate lack of time calls for desperate measures, and Sam finds himself pushing boundaries and breaking rules to claim the heart he loves. But there is more at stake  here than even the Death God realized, and as the long hand climes toward October’s final moments, what is truly to be gained and truly to be lost becomes all too terrifyingly clear.

Logan Wright’s world spins out of control as she is dragged unwillingly into the realm bordering Samhain’s kingdom. But what begins as a struggle to free herself from Sam’s clutches and leave the new yet achingly familiar land she has entered becomes a journey of dawning understanding and self discovery – as October Land, in all of its amber-hued splendor and Autumn magic not only captures her body and soul, but the very heart she is trying so desperately to protect.

Somewhere between the mortal realm and the Realm of the Dead, in the fantastical world of apple orchards and pumpkin patches, cinnamon spice, and midnight masquerades, ten friends quest for power, freedom, and salvation – and one must make the ultimate choice. And the ultimate sacrifice.

Suddenly Sam is the anxiously awaited third and final heart-pounding novel in the award winning young adult paranormal romance series, The October Trilogy, by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Heather Killough-Walden.

 _____________________________________________________

White lightning split the sky overhead, casting the masquerade floor into stark contrasts of light and dark. Thunder, its violent brother, came rumbling along after. The Harvesters looked up, fidgeting nervously in their seats.

Logan, however, remained as she was, her gaze trapped in Sam’s as if held there by chains. “I have a life to live, Sam.”

The lightning that had been dancing through the skies now dove for the ground, shooting into the forest nearby and cracking a tree in half. The sound shocked the universe for a moment, and the ground shook.

Sam’s gaze never left hers. “When will the living stop using their lives against me?” he asked.

“When you stop using death against them.”

___________________________________________________________________________________

I will be reading and reviewing this entire series next month.  Go grab yourself a copy and read along with me!

Sam I Am (Book One):

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sam-Book-One-October-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B004OC038O/

B&N:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sam-i-am-heather-killough-walden/1030475869?ean=2940012216519

Secretly Sam (Book Two)

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Secretly-Sam-The-October-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B009JKBGKK/
B&N:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secretly-sam-heather-killough-walden/1113073176?ean=2940015536331

Suddenly Sam (Book Three)

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Suddenly-Sam-October-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00G7KY3AK/
B&N:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/suddenly-sam-heather-killough-walden/1117249904?ean=2940148650256

BLOG TOUR: Review & GIVEAWAY!!! Taunting Destiny by Amelia Hutchins

Title: Taunting Destiny
Author: Amelia Hutchins
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Hosted By: Love Between The Sheets


Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17980013-taunting-destiny?from_search=true




How to find Amelia


Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7092218.Amelia_Hutchins
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorameliahutchins




Buy Links


Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Taunting-Destiny-The-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00FAFJU8S/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1380677253&sr=1-1&keywords=tauting+destiny


Barnes N Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taunting-destiny-amelia-hutchins/1116947943?ean=2940148551720




Synopsis


I thought things were bad and weird before – hold on – it’s getting worse.

Adam and I are both going through identity crises of epic proportions as we Transition from who we were, and discover who we were meant to be. More Fae are dying, and I feel as if time is running out for us to find all of those responsible and put an end to the killings.

The people I thought I could trust have betrayed me and the one person I should absolutely not trust; is taking me deeper and deeper into his world.

Ryder’s secrets are dangerous and devastating.

With each touch and word, he pulls my heart closer to himself and at the same time he is trying to keep me at arm’s length. The dance he and I have begun, is getting more complicated as our worlds are being shaken from all sides, and the visions of the future are frightening, and nothing like I had ever pictured for myself or those I care for.

This time, destiny is taunting me.

I had always thought that I controlled my destiny. Now, my rights are being taken from me by powerful people and leaving me with alternatives that range between bad and awful.

This time, the choices I have to make can decide the fate of both worlds.

Everything is unraveling, and nothing will ever be the same again.

Author Bio:

Amelia lives in the great Pacific Northeast with her family. When not writing she can be found on her page Erotica Book Club. She's an avid reader of everything paranormal romance.

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REVIEW

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Taunting Destiny picks up right where we left off in Fighting Destiny with Syn struggling to come to grips with all the changes and revelations she was hit with in the last book. After hating the fae her whole life she is having a very difficult time accepting that she is one of them. The mere thought of going through Transition horrifies her. Adam is off going through his own transition and she is, for the most part, cut off from Alden, leaving her feeling rather adrift with no one that she trusts to turn to. She is still the strong, caring, kickass Syn we know but she is dealing with a lot and is more unsure of herself and her place in the world at this point.

Ryder is of course being his typical self, which is to say-a bastard. A sexy, dominant, sexy, secretive, sexy, cocky, sexy, overprotective, sexy bastard.  Did I mention sexy?   I can totally understand why Syn wants to choke him one minute and throw him down on the bed the next.

And boy does he have a mouth on him! Not like that, well that too actually now that I think about it…wait, where were we? A lot of the things he said had me giggling like a schoolgirl and "allegedly" blushing.

Okay, I was, and for my boyfriend to notice I must have been roughly the shade of a fire truck.

As the story progresses you do start to see a softer side to Ryder. Hint: It is definitely NOT in his pants, but feel free to check for yourself. I still don’t know what exactly he is, but after getting to know him better and getting to spend some time in his head, I did finally start to trust him this time around.

Amelia Hutchins does a really good job of weaving all the plot threads together without getting tripped up on them. The beginning was a little bit slower for me, but it builds to a breakneck speed by the end. The only real criticism I had was that sometimes it was a bit redundant particularly when characters were talking about Syn or when Syn was talking about Adam. It didn’t really detract from my enjoyment, but I am hoping that aspect is tightened up in the next one.


The ending is a cliffhanger from hell, and my cockiness leading up to it made it all the more painful. It went something like this:

Me: I know exactly what is about to happen *pats self on back*

Amelia Hutchins:




Me: Yep, he’s gonna knight in shining armor the fuck out of this…any second now….where the fuck is he?!

Amelia Hutchins:




Me: That's okay, I had a backup plan: they’re going to be one and the same. Fae can’t lie but he’s tricky, it’s possible. Right? Riiiight??? Wait, you’re not….fuck, what the hell is happening? WHERE... IS… HE...?



Amelia Hutchins:




Me:

I need book 3 yesterday.

The Collector

The Collector

Victoria Scott

1.0/5.0



Dante Walker is a self-absorbed prick who is one of hell's best soul collectors. He gets to assigned to collect Charlie Cooper's soul, he has 10 days. He doesn't know why the big guy downstairs wants Charlie, nor does he care. Getting her gets him a permanent ticket out of hell. Then Dante meets said Charlie, and the "quirky Nerd Alert chick," and realizes that the assignment is going to test his abilities and uncover emotions he's buried oh-so-deep in his shallow, shallow soul.

Ok. I'm not going to lie. The blurb on Goodreads didn't sound as bad. I was actually thinking this could be one of those quick, funny reads.  I was all excited when I FINALLY got it.  Then I got like 2 chapters in and was like:

I couldn't even finish it. I literally got sooo angry I had to put it down. Like serious rage mad. Like…. veins bulging on my forehead mad.

Seriously. I hate all the characters in this book. EVERY-FREAKIN-ONE!

Like... I don't even.... I'm not even... just AUGH!

First there is the male lead/love interest/resident dickhead, Dante. I've never wanted to kill a character in a book with my bare hands quite as much as wanted to kill him. 

I'm not sure that there are enough insulting words to adequately describe Dante. So we'll just say he's a shallow, self-absorbed prick who has serious ego issues, making him possibly the world's biggest ass.

Don't get me wrong. I love a bad guy (hello, Daemon Black!?). Dante is not a bad guy. He's just that asshat who wants to be and thinks if he's a ginormous enough dick to everyone they'll cower in his glorious wake.

Seriously, lets look at a few choice quotes/thoughts:

Shit he thinks about himself:

“I glance in the mirror. Surprise, surprise—I look finger-lickin’ delicious.”

"I came as Awesome Sauce," I say. "You probably wouldn't recognize it.”

"You don't know who you're fucking with, princess. Ain't no one do bad like I do.”

Shit he thinks about Charlie and her friends:

“My eyes widen at the sight of her. This is the girl Boss Man is after? She looks like a porcelain doll…beat three times with an ugly stick.”

“Her wavy hair falls to mid-waist, and I think how she looks better this way. From the back.”

“Dante, this is Annabelle.”
No. No way. That name is reserved for females with grace and elegance, not this girl. This girl is…beastly. “Annabelle,” I say. “It suits you.”

and THEN, what he thinks about people who think the same way he does about Charlie:

“How can someone be cruel to this chick? It’s like picking a fight with a chipmunk.”

How in the hell can he get mad at everyone else for doing and thinking the SAME SHIT HE DOES?!?!  Oh what?  It's okay because he doesn't straight up say it to her face.  It's not because he's not that mean.  It's just because he wants her to THINK he's a good guy so he can seal her soul.

I promise you.  If he didn't have something to gain by not being a jackass, he'd be right there with the rest of them.

I do not feel like for one minute it’s a change of heart thing with him. It's more like possessive bullying. She's his to torment, no one else’s.

I don't find the shit he says and/or thinks to be funny.  Not to mention the way it's delivered.  I felt like I needed a Douche-bag to English dictionary.

And I don't like Charlie either. Her naivety is just soooo F$*@ing annoying. She believes everything Dante tells her. Everything. She trusts everyone, even AFTER they have proven themselves completely UNTRUSTWORTHY. This has a lot to do with why she falls for the asinine pranks that the so-called “popular crowd” keep pulling on her OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

Then the whole, I'll sign my soul away to the devil so I can be pretty and that way Dante can love me. ARE YOU F'ING KIDDING ME?!

First of all, great lesson for little girls. If a man doesn't love you, sell your soul to the devil and get pretty, and then, and only then, can he love you in return. Who you are has absolutely no merit. None.

Secondly, WHO in their right mind would WANT to date a dude like Dante. I know, I know.  They are out there.  But WHY??? He's so obsessed with himself that he's just annoying. I'm all for self confidence, but Jesus.

I can only handle so many "I'm god's gift to women" epilogues, and it's not like he is really a nice guy with an ego complex.  Nothing about Dante is like-able. If he was the last man on Earth and I had to procreate with him to save the human race, humans would go extinct. No question.

The parts of the book I managed to get through just left me feeling ick. Like I felt like a bad person just for reading something so disgusting. Not to mention the serious rage rants my friends and family had to endure after I finally gave up.

I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone, especially young girls. To me it basically said that if you are having self-esteem issues because of whatever, it's because you ARE whatever, and you need to change that, or accept that you will never be anything special.

It also suggested that it's perfectly normal for someone to be rude, demeaning, controlling, demanding, and a general ass to you in a relationship. Like that's the sacrifice you have to make to be loved. BULLSHIT! 

I hate books like this. I really, really do. I think you get that. So I'm going to step down off my soapbox here and I'll just say go out and find a book with a REAL heroine in it. Don't look up to Charlie. Look up to a woman who is strong, and independent, and comfortable with herself regardless of what she looks like, no matter how tall/fat/short/skinny/pimply/whatever she is. One who demands respect and doesn't try to change herself for some guy and doesn't settle for some guy just because he showed her a little attention. There are plenty of good, strong female characters in sooo many books.