Torch Blast

When sign ups opened for this blast, I jumped at the chance. I definitely had to be a part of this. I am such a fan of Cambria's work, but more importantly, this looks like the type of book I would not only want to read, but would write myself. So without further ado, let me share more with you about Cambria Hebert and TORCH...

Cambria Hebert is a latte sipping author of the Heven & Hell series, the Death Escorts series, and the Take It Off series. She loves a caramel latte, hates math and is afraid of chickens (yes, chickens). She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband and children (both human and furry) where she is plotting her next book. You can find out more about Cambria and her work by visiting http://www.cambriahebert.com

TORCH is the first book in Cambria's Take It Off series which is New Adult Contemporary.  To tell you the truth, I'm very excited to be able to read the book. 

If you can’t take the heat… stay away from the flame.

Katie Parks has been on her own since the age of fifteen. All she’s ever wanted is a place to call her own—a life that is wholly hers that no one can take away. She thought she finally had it, but with the strike of a single match, everything she worked so hard for is reduced to a pile of smoking ash. And she almost is too.

Now she’s being stalked by someone who’s decided it’s her time to die. The only thing standing in the path of her blazing death is sexy firefighter Holt Arkain.

Katie’s body might be safe with Holt… but her heart is another story.

As the danger heats up, sparks fly and the only thing Katie knows for sure is that her whole life is about to go up in flames.

To find out more about Cambria and her work, please visit the following sites, and be sure to click all of the appropriate 'like' and 'follow' buttons to stay up to date on all of her work and any and all giveaways that might be going on. I promise you won't want to miss out.

“Like” her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cambri...

Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cambriahebert

Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/cambriahebert/p...

Cambria website: http://www.cambriahebert.com

Also, don't forget to add TORCH to your To Read lists on GoodReads here, or you can purchase TORCH using the links below.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

ARC Review of Megan Curd's Steel Lily

AVERY PIKE is a commodity. No, more than a commodity. Her existence is guarded at all costs.

She’s a water Elementalist, the strongest of her dwindling kind. She creates steam to provide energy to fuel Dome Four: the only thing standing between humanity and an earth ravaged by World War III. No steam, no Dome. No Dome, no life.

Or so she thinks.

That is, until a mysterious man offers her a way out of having to donate steam. A way to escape the corrupt government of Dome Four. While the offer seems too good to be true, Avery is intrigued.

But when she arrives to her new home, she realizes the grass isn’t any less dead on this side of the fence. Instead, the lies are just hidden better.

…Which means digging deeper.

When Avery enlists the help of her friends to uncover the truth, she learns that while some secrets are better left concealed, humankind was never meant to live in a cage. And when you can control the most sought after resource, you can learn to control anything…including the fate of your world.

As I'm sure you have all heard me say at some point or another, the dystopian genre isn't a genre that I normally like to read. However, in recent months I have picked up a couple of books in the genre that have shown me that even though it isn't my preferred reading material, there are some that have sparked my interest. Steel Lily is absolutely one of those books.

Megan has imbued elemental manipulation into a new world with a steampunk flavor, and I am head over heels in love with it. I can totally see the world going in that direction, minus the elemental "magic" if you will. She has this way of telling a story that makes you look at the world around you and say to yourself, "Self, if reincarnation is real, I want to come back and live in this world that Megan Curd has created within these pages, because it sounds completely badass!" No really, you'll say that to yourself while you read this book, I did. I'm not making that up. But you'll only want to do it if you can be like Avery. Trust me.

The characters in this book, Avery, Alice, Jaxon, Sari, Legs... They could be your friends, your classmates, your love interests... They are well thought out, highly developed, and each and every one of them (even the villains, yes I used the plural form) are even more pivotal to the story line than just to give it more depth. They all play a distinct role, roles that give credence to the overall theme. It's this that ties them all together, and I fear that it is this that may tear them apart.

There were places within the story where I literally laughed out loud, and then others where I found myself fighting tears. There are also places where I had to take a step back and say, "Okay, remember, this isn't real and no matter what you cannot hurt this person." Yes, readers, it was THAT intense. And THAT my friends, is a sign of a damn good book. When you want to climb into the pages and hurt someone for hurting someone else.

All in all, I am completely hooked and I now have an intense need to know where this series is going to take us. Will these fragile (because they are extremely fragile) ties that bind this group of misfits together be enough to hold them to one another? How far can they be pushed before they break? What will it take for them to learn to trust outside of themselves? Because ultimately, that is what this series will be about. Learning to trust when you can barely trust yourself.

Great job, Megan. I'm anxiously awaiting Iron Pendulum.

Forces of Nature Series (Cover Reveal)

Natural Selection by Elizabeth Sharp

Goodreads | Amazon

Average, plain-bodied Amelia Hoffman has resigned herself to a life of mediocrity, unable to escape the shadows cast by her all-too-perfect siblings. Worse, her feelings for her brother’s best friend are getting stronger.

Everything changes after the brutal murder of her close friend.Suddenly, Amelia’s life is transformed and she is thrust into a wondrous and frightening new world of myths and legends. As she explores this new world hidden within the layers of her own, secrets are revealed. When her body miraculously changes overnight,  Amelia is forced to hide in her home for her own protection. But as danger circles closer, Amelia has to figure out who is committing the ruthless homicides.

Otherwise, she could be next. 

Second Nature by Elizabeth Sharp

Goodreads | Amazon

Nothing seems right in Amelia’s new life. On the run with new names, her family has finally settled into a lavish life in North Carolina. Her relationship with Nate is strained almost to its breaking point, and she has no friends. As Nate pulls further away, a handsome stranger sweeps into her life.

Then evil comes for her again.

After her brother is kidnapped, they discover someone is draining demons for a deadly new drug that turns its users into mindless zombies. The drug ravages up and down the east coast, and all humanity is in danger. To make matters worse, an old enemy is back for revenge. With the help of her family and friends, Amelia must deal with her past.

Or they won’t have a future.

Better Nature by Elizabeth Sharp

Goodreads | Amazon

No matter how she tries to deny it, Amelia Hoffman has a destiny. An evil plot threatens to destroy humanity and the future lies in her hands. To make things even more difficult, she is distracted by college, family squabbles and trying to decide between two men she loves.

But destiny won’t be ignored for long.

When an explosion tears through the Library that houses the entire history of the Otherworld, Amelia is thrust into action. She has to fight through the tension tearing the Otherworld apart to rally an army. As the danger grows, Amelia must rise to fulfill the prophecy.

Or the whole world could fall. 

Author Bio:

Elizabeth has a near crippling Facebook addiction, dwarfed only by her need for Dr. Pepper. A self-proclaimed techno geek, she loves cell phones, computers, tablets and all things technological. The internet has to be the greatest invention since the wheel, in her opinion. She lives in a quiet subdivision with her husband, one-year-old son, three cats, and far too many electronics. It’s quite possible she has some raccoon in her DNA, because she loves glitter and anything that sparkles. She enjoys making jewelry and costumes. Halloween is her favorite holiday since it’s the one day of the year that you can be whatever you want. But her first love will always be writing. Otherwise, hearing voices in her head would make her feel schizophrenic.

Links:

Amazon

Goodreads

Facebook

Twitter

Striking by Lila Felix & Rachel Higginson (Cover Reveal)

Readers, I have something spectacular to share with y'all today!!!

Two of the coolest people I know, Lila Felix & Rachel Higginson, have tamed up to write a stellar book titled Striking. This book is going to be good. Trust me. I just know it. They've asked if I would like to participate in the cover reveal, so I've jumped onto the gravy train, and I'm riding it all the way to release day! LOL! Now, before I show y'all this absolutely stunning cover, let me tell you about the book...

Can two hearts be forged into one?

Cami Montgomery stole a car and smashed it into the front of a building in upscale Beverly Hills after a lousy date with the epitome of sleaze balls. The worst part, her parents are following through on threats after this latest plea for attention. Banished from her L.A. paradise and plunged into the Appalachian Mountains with her industrious aunt and uncle, Cami is about to find out how precious life really is. 

Stockton Wright has been thrust into a hard life. He sacrifices everything to give his family and community what they need. He’s exhausted from life and work—and he’s only twenty four. What he needs is some change, and some sunshine. Even he will agree to that. He just doesn’t expect to find it in a stuck up, pompous, entitled Californian. 

Cami bursts into Stockton’s life like wildfire, consuming all his thoughts and tangling him in her web. What starts out as a contentious rivalry evolves into a desire neither of them expected. When hammer meets metal, will they crack under pressure or be forged as one?

Cami and Stockton might just end up being exactly what the other one needs, but first their love will have to be drawn out in fire.


Sounds like a hit, doesn't it? I know! I can't wait to read it either!!! Okay, so I won't keep you waiting any longer.

Here...







It...





Is!!!!

Don't forget to add the book to your GoodReads shelves by clicking here, and make sure you swing by both Barnes & Noble and Amazon's websites to find more published works by each of these truly talented authors!

A few things to share and a magical weekend in Tennessee

I realize that it's been MONTHS since I've posted here. For that, I apologize. Between illness, writing Moon Song, and trying to just keep my head above the water, it's been a hectic few months! However, I have a few things to share with y'all!

First, let's talk a little about Moon Song shall we?

I have got to tell y'all that I am such a huge jumble of emotions over this book that I don't even know where to begin, but mostly, I am so incredibly excited about it. This book is going to be so good, I can feel it, and you guys are going to love it so much. That is if you don't kill me by the time you finish it. PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!! Ha ha. I am even more excited about the cover for this book. Though I haven't even seen it yet and I don't even know what it's going to look like when it's done, I know it will be exactly what I see in my head every single time I think about it. At the same time I am completely terrified because everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING, is riding on this cover. My sells, the way you guys (my readers and fans) embrace it, and the over all feel of the book stands on the cover of Moon Song. It's important that we get this right.

Moon Song is slated for release in late October/early November, and you can read the blurb and add it to your To Read shelves on GoodReads. 

Second, I'm working on a collaborative project titled If It Hadn't Been You with my wonderful friend and an outstanding writer, H.P. Landry. I am just as excited about this book as I am about Moon Song, and I cannot wait to finally be able to devote my attention to this one as well. It's going to be really good. I can feel it. We do not have a synopsis for it yet, but you can go ahead and add it to your To Read shelves on GoodReads as well. 

And finally, let me talk to you about my magical weekend in Nashville, TN at UtopYA Con 2013!!

Seriously you guys, this was honestly the most wonderful weekend I have spent surrounded by readers, bloggers, and authors who all share the same feelings about the book world as I do. It was absolutely awe inspiring. I was able to meet authors I wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet any other time, and I was also finally able to meet people I had only ever talked to on Facebook or Twitter. I saw people I hadn't seen in months, and never once did it ever feel awkward or forced. It was the most natural thing in the world. 

I went into last weekend thinking that I would be one of those odd ducks who just kind of loafed around aimlessly, talking to people only when they talked to me, and then going back to my hotel room feeling like no one wanted to hang out with me because I may have said something I shouldn't have said and BAM, no one wanted to hang out with me. I was wrong. Oddly enough people thought I was funny, which is really weird because I am not at all funny, and I didn't spend much time alone at all. It was great. 

I could make a list of some of the wonderful people I met, but one person stands out the most in my mind... Nanette Bradford. We only chatted for a few minutes but in those few minutes, I found a kindred spirit, and she is a lovely one. I only wish we didn't live on opposite coasts.

There were several highlights of my trip to UtopYA 2013, one of which included me telling THE Chelsea Fine that she absolutely could NOT give me a hug, and then feeling awful for a split second when her radiant smile slipped from her face right before I wrapped her in a huge hug. It was great, let me tell you.

Then there was the night Megan Curd and I became instant BFFs because she air humped me. She says it was completely unintentional, but I know she meant to do it. I love her so much more because of her valiant attempts to make it not creepy. 

My favorite moment though came when I finally got to meet the woman responsible for bringing me into the world of indie books and their authors. Tammy Blackwell. To say that I didn't want to cry would be telling you all a bold faced lie. If I were that girl, I'd have broken down completely and cried for an hour, but I held it together (just barely), and managed to actually form words in her presence. And then she gave me an omnibus of the trilogy that started it all, and it took every single ounce of energy I had to not lose it. I will cherish it, and her, forever. 

Meeting Samantha Young was something that I have wanted to do since the moment I sat down and read Warriors of Ankh. The only thing though was that it was so blasted loud and she is so soft spoken that I had to keep telling her, "Baby, you're going to have to speak up because no one can hear a word you're saying." I think I told her that half a million times, and every single time, she'd laugh like it was the best thing she'd heard in her life, and it made me feel like a million bucks! I only hope that I'll get to see her again sometime. She is as amazing in person as she is on Facebook.

I could go on for hours about all the people I met and hung out with, but I won't do that to you. I'll let you check out the pictures I have on Facebook, and you can see for yourself all the fun that was had. I absolutely cannot wait for next year! Is it here yet?!

I love you guys, thanks for reading this post and for all of your hard work and your support of all things Indie! We love you all! 

And remember... #ExpandYourClump

ARC Review of Inhale, Exhale

Inhale, Exhale

by

Sarah M. Ross

Jillian had a plan: celebrate the end of her first year of college with an amazing summer full of beaches, barbeques, and bonfires. When her mom insists she needs a summer job, and her boyfriend spends more time with his band than with her, Jillian’s plans go down the drain. 

Grant had a plan: finish his Masters, get a great job at Google, and get the hell out of Georgia. He might be giving up some of the fun of his youth, but he knows his all work and no play method would be worth it when his dreams came true.

But things never go according to plan. 
When temptation brings them together and tragedy tears them apart, Jillian and Grant will be forced to choose: fight for their dreams, or fight for each other.

Okay, I have to start this review off by saying that if you have never read one of Sarah's books, then you can either purchase one of them here or wait for this book to come out and make it your first ever Sarah M. Ross book. Either way, get to reading and falling in love with this author and her writing style. Wow. Just wow.

Inhale, Exhale is Sarah's first New Adult Contemporary, and I have got to tell each of you who are reading this, that she is set to take the genre by storm!!! This book is incredible!!! I've found myself completely blown away. The characters are a captivating, well developed, and impressive bunch of people who I could definitely see myself as being friends with in the real world. I'm not lying. Grant, Jillian, Trish, Ava, and JT are the tops. I only wish the book had been longer, because I wanted to know more about each of them. They really are a fascinating group, and the friendships, camaraderie, and dynamics between them are purely natural. It's like reading a book about some of those people closest to you. 

The love story in this book is beautiful, and so completely fulfilling that I never once found myself wanting or lacking in any area as it all unfolded. From the stellar prologue to the epilogue, I was bound and connected to the love that Grant and Jillian felt for one another, and I was left feeling 100% satisfied. Their love blossomed and built slowly and steadily through the pages, and it was so well done that I actually wanted to crawl into my Kindle and hug them both when they were faced with the biggest challenges. I wish that I could tell you more about the love they shared, but I can't. Granted, I caught myself falling for Grant, but I fell hard for JT. We'll talk about him shortly.

Now, let me talk a bit about how Trish will now and forever be referred to as my fictional best friend. This girl is a riot. She's smart and funny and quick witted. She's loyal to a fault, and she was all too willing to rip Christian to shreds for Jillian. You can't ask for a better friend than that. And THAT is why Trish is my fictional best friend. Not to mention she says some of the best things about JT, but I can't tell you about that either. You've got to wait for the book.

Now, JT. JT is a womanizing computer geek. He knows it, he owns it, and that alone makes him sexy as all hell. That's all I'm saying. So ladies, don't get any ideas. I saw him first!

In all seriousness though, do yourselves a favor and make those e-readers happy by buying your own copy of Inhale, Exhale when it goes live on both Amazon and Barnes & Noble May 7th. I just know you guys will love it. Please keep in mind though, that this book touches on the subjects of drugs, hacking, and violence and is not intended for audiences under that age of 17. It also includes sexual situations, and some pretty heaving petting, so again, not intended for younger audiences.

Also, don't forget to follow Sarah on Twitter and Facebook to keep yourselves up to date on all the latest teasers and news about any and all of her work. You can also check out her website http://www.sarahmross.com.