Review: Tortured Souls (The Orion Circle #1) by Kimber Leigh Wheaton

Title: Tortured Souls (The Orion Circle #1)
Author: Kimber Leigh Wheaton
Source: YA Bound Book Tours
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Release Date: July 28, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Sometimes Rest in Peace isn't an option...

Kacie Ramsey sees ghosts—and it's ruining her life. Her mother left, her father blames her, and no matter how hard she tries, she can't keep the ghosts away. Now a new power has emerged. Nightly visions of grisly murders and a relentless predator draw her to the brink of insanity.

When the phantom appears at a party, Kacie's longtime crush, Logan, saves her. He invites her to join the Orion Circle, a group of supernatural hunters with chapters in schools all over the country. Through the Circle, Kacie learns to embrace her spiritual powers, and for the first time in her life she feels in control rather than a victim.

But the Foxblood Demon will not give up so easily. A demented serial killer in life who trapped the souls of the thirteen children he murdered, imprisoning them within the walls of his mansion. Now in death, he plots his return while drawing power from the pure souls of the children. He recognizes something in Kacie he's never seen before—a medium powerful enough to provide a vessel for his tainted soul.

Kacie can't ignore the tortured souls of the children crying out to her every night. With Logan at her side, she will fight the Foxblood Demon. But can they banish this powerful phantom, or will Kacie lose not only her body, but her eternal soul to the monster.

This was a fantastic introduction to The Orion Circle, an special club that investigates paranormal mysteries, hauntings, and tries to assist the unwanted ghosties on their way to the other side.  Kacie is a new addition, invited after a current member (and serious crush) finds out she can see and communicate with spirits.  But this time the spirit she sees isn't just annoying or needing help, it wants Kacie.  And it will do just about anything to have her.

This spirit is incredibly nasty and has quite a history that the Orion Circle has to figure out before they can get rid of it.  The journey if very exciting, and all the little clues dropped throughout the story all come together brilliantly.

There is a romance between Logan and Kacie, but while it is somewhat important, the real story is defeating the Foxblood Demon.

Goodreads - Amazon - Barnes & Noble

Review: Against the Darkness (Cimmerian Moon #1) by A. M. Griffin

Title: Against the Darkness (Cimmerian Moon #1)
Author: A. M. Griffin
Source: YA Bound Book Tours
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Apocalyptic
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

This one time, at band camp…aliens invaded earth. Sounds like a bad riff on an old joke, doesn’t it? Unfortunately for me and my friends, it’s all too true. I thought a mess like this only happened in the movies but, as I watch the alien ships hovering over the major cities, I suddenly realize I’m a thousand miles away from my Mom. From home. From safety.

Darkness may have fallen over the world, but I won’t let it claim me. I’ll do anything I have to get back to Michigan. Yet nothing could prepare me for what we find on our trek north from Tallahassee. There’s hardly anything the aliens haven’t bombed. Survival, at any cost, is the name of the game for the few people who haven’t been killed or captured. As if trying to stay free and alive isn’t enough, I think I just met the love of my life. And he’s just the kind of bad boy who’ll tear down the walls I’ve built around my heart—then break it.

Amazing.  That is the best way to describe Against the Darkness.  It was a brilliant mix of coming of age, science fiction, and alien invasion apocalypse.  Sinta was a very well built character and you can't help but love her.  She has plenty of flaws for readers to relate to, but has such an inner strength and fortitude that you admire her at the same time.  Watching as she turned from the bratty teen arguing with her mother into a formidable survivor was great.  I enjoyed watcher her recover from her mistakes and was thrilled that she didn't make them over and over again.

Now the aliens - we don't see too much of them, but they are this constant threat lurking everywhere.  And I really mean everywhere.  The first time you actually see them as a reader is incredibly intense and brilliantly written.  

There is a sort of love triangle, but the players all know where they stand with each other so it didn't really bother me.  Sinta is pretty sure who she wants, and even the times that it doesn't work out well for her, she sticks to it.  She's not the type to change her feelings easily.

There is one scene where I was afraid something beyond horrible was happening, but thank goodness it didn't - I think you will all recognize it when you get there as the kids were all rescued just in the nick of time.  I had a hard time putting this down and I loved the world that A.M. Griffin created.  Familiar, but at the same time strangely transfigured by the alien invasion.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Cover Reveal: The Spirit Heir by Kaitlyn Davis

I love the way the covers for book one and two of this series tie together, but still have a very unique feel to them.  Very well done.

The Spirit Heir (A Dance of
Dragons #2)

by Kaitlyn
Davis 

Release Date: 10/30/14

Summary from Goodreads:

From bestselling
author Kaitlyn Davis comes the second book in the thrilling A Dance of Dragons
series--perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, Graceling, and Game of Thrones!


Drenched in darkness and surrounded by the echo of screams, Jinji waits deep in
the dungeons of Rayfort, haunted by the memory of the knife stabbing Rhen,
plagued by a foreign voice whispering through her mind. A few floors above,
Rhen rests trapped in a coma, about to wake to a changed world—a world where
his best friend is a woman, his nephew is the king, and an enemy army surrounds
him on all sides.


But human wars are insignificant compared to the darkness gathering unseen.
Memories of lives she never lived flash through Jinji's thoughts, hinting at a
past that cannot be repeated. A mysterious phantom visits Rhen, carrying cryptic
messages of the future. And somewhere out there, the shadow continues to lurk
in silence.


Uncertain of their relationship and tempted by new feelings, Rhen and Jinji
must find a way to work together. The fate of humanity rests on their shoulders
and the real battle has only just begun…

Book One:

(new cover)

The Shadow Soul (A Dance of Dragons, #1)

by Kaitlyn Davis

Release Date: 02/20/14

Release Date:

GAME OF THRONES meets GRACELING in a new fantasy series by bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis.

Jinji has been haunted by the death of her twin brother for ten years. Now, on the dawn of her joining, the nightmare that claimed him has returned for her.

Prince Whylrhen is determined to prevent the past from repeating itself. His kingdom is expecting a new heir, and he will stop at nothing to keep the child safe.

Though they've never met, the two share a deep secret—magic. Jinji can weave the elements to create master illusions and Whylrhen can pull burning flames into his flesh. But neither of them knows what they are truly capable of until a chance encounter brings them together. For their story has played out before, in a long forgotten time—an age of myth that is about to be reborn…

RAVE REVIEWS!

"The writing is flawless. The story and plot line, and plot
twists, had me captivated and enamored for the first words. I couldn't
put this book down for anything, and I absolutely cannot wait for book
two...It's an amazing start to a new series that is going to have people of all
ages wanting so much more." - Happy Tails and Tales


"One word to describe this book: intense!  Everything
from the battles, to the secrets, to the descriptions of the characters and
scenery, are all incredibly intense.  This book had me biting my nails,
stomach tided in knots, and completely entranced til the last word." - Desert
Rose Reviews


"Throughout the story, the stakes were always raised. There
was no part that lagged while Davis was telling her story of far off lands,
and the drama continued to the very end...To those readers who
like fantasy and adventure, or to those who tried to read "A
Song of Ice and Fire" but couldn't make it through the first chapter
without falling asleep - this could be a series for you." - Pink
Fluffy Hearts


"The Shadow Soul was positively transportive, left me feeling
refreshed, and renewed my faith in symbolism, imagery, and the importance of
world building and cultural preservation...If you want to set out on a
journey, read this." - We Do Write


"I loved this book! I was drawn into the story with the fantastic
and descriptive storytelling told alternatively between Rhen and
Jinji!... The political pickings, magical murderers, and shadowy suspense
are the real plot stars in this book and the wonderful characterization and
world-building adds extra oomph to grab you and keep you in this world." - EBook
Escapes

About the Author

I've always been a writer. I grew up duct taping my novels together, started writing complete manuscripts in high school and studied creative writing at Johns Hopkins University. Upon graduating, I decided it was finally time to actually give my dream career a chance. So, of course, I started writing a young adult paranormal romance series -- and no, I'm not jumping on the bandwagon. I've been a true paranormal supporter for my entire life! I blame my obsession almost completely on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, my all-time favorite television show. And, before you ask: Yes, I own every season... even the post WB ones! I especially challenge anyone to watch the first three seasons and not fall in love with Angel, securing a lifelong love of vampires! Other culprits of my paranormal obsession are some of my favorite authors: JK Rowling, Raymond Feist, Meg Cabot, Richelle Mead, Lynne Ewing and Tamora Pierce.

Author Links:

    

Cover Reveal Organized by:

Cover Reveal: Hemlock Veils by Jennie Davenport

I love the eerie feel and colors on this one.

Hemlock Veils

by Jennie
Davenport 

Release Date: 11/25/14

Swoon Romance

Summary from Goodreads:

When Elizabeth Ashton
escapes her damaging city life and finds herself in the remote town of Hemlock
Veils, Oregon, she is smitten by its quaint mystery; but the surrounding forest
holds an enchantment she didn’t think existed, and worse, a most terrifying
monster. The town claims it vicious and evil, but Elizabeth suspects something
is amiss. Even with its enormous, hairy frame, gruesome claws, and knifelike
teeth, the monster’s eyes speak to her: wolf-like and ringed with gold, yet
holding an awareness that can only be human. That’s when Elizabeth knows she is
the only one who can see the struggling soul trapped inside, the soul to which
she is moved.


Secretly, Elizabeth befriends the beast at night, discovering there’s more to
his story and that the rising of the sun transforms him into a human more
complex than his beastly self. Elizabeth eventually learns that his curse is
unlike any other and that a single murderous act is all that stands between him
and his freedom. Though love is not enough to break his curse, it may be the
only means by which the unimaginable can be done: sacrifice a beauty for the
beast.

About the Author

Though Jennie Davenport was raised throughout the Midwest, she now lives
in the little desert mining town of Bagdad, Arizona, where six guys beg for her
constant attention: a husband, three young, blond sons, a German shepherd with
a name much mightier than his disposition (Zeus), and a black cat named Mouse.
When she isn’t trying to run her home with as little casualties as possible,
Jennie loves snuggling with her family, laughing with her friends, delving into
brilliant entertainment of any vein, and playing outside. Despite the way being
a writer is in her blood, and the wheels of her writerly mind are constantly
turning, Jennie likes to think that in another life, she would have been a
Broadway star. Or an American Idol finalist.

Jennie lives for the fall, and not just because of her adoration for the
NFL (Go Broncos!). In her perfect world, she would have the springs, summers,
and falls of Colorado, and the winters of Arizona—someplace where the climate
and weather would allow her to go on a trail run all year round. But even
though she prefers the pines and mountains, she is a devoted fan of all nature,
from sandy beaches to woodsy cabins, and all are her greatest inspiration. She
believes nature is one of the best healing remedies, with a magic all its own.


Jennie’s passion for writing is the way she survives, and is as vital to
her sanity as oxygen, caffeine, food, and music. Even before she began writing
it, well-told, original, and character-driven romance was always her weak spot.
Add the paranormal or magical realism element and she may never make it back to
reality. 

Author Links:

   

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Cover Reveal: Eventide by Christine Allen-Riley

Eventide (Iron Falls, #1)

by Christine
Allen-Riley 

Release Date: 10/2014

Summary from Goodreads:

The driver in a tragic
car accident that killed her best friend, Devon Greer is consumed by guilt.
When powerful hallucinations convince her that she’s seeing Rachael everywhere,
Devon thinks she’s going crazy. But her friend isn’t truly gone.

To save Rachael from the faeries who stole her, Devon must pit herself against
the Court of the Sidhe. Once she witnesses the true form of the fey, Devon’s
life is in danger—and so are the lives of everyone she loves.

Now, Devon must not only protect herself, but also Jonah Seafort, Rachael’s
cousin and the only person Devon can trust to help her. While the Sidhe walk
among them, no one is safe…

About the Author

Lover of books, nature, cats and shiny things. Active disliker of
cooking, cleaning and stress. Mom, freelance editor & YA author - also a
bit of a nerd.

Author Links:

   

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Cover Reveal: Snark and Stage Fright by Stephanie Wardrop

Snark and Stage Fright

by Stephanie
Wardrop

Release Date: 10/14/14

Swoon Romance

Summary from Goodreads:

Happily-ever-after
isn’t as happy or forever as Jane Austen makes it look. Just something Georgia
Barrett learns when her sharp tongue costs her the only guy she’s ever really
cared about: Michael Endicott.

Determined to move on,
Georgia lands the lead role in the school’s fall musical. But to survive on
stage, she’ll need to learn to express herself without her protective shield of
snark. She soon discovers being honest with others means being honest with
herself, and the truth is she’s still in love with Michael.

But from the looks of
Michael’s new girlfriend, Georgia isn’t the only one who tried to move on.
Apparently, some people are just better at it than others. And when Michael and
his girlfriend join the cast of the fall musical, Georgia finds out that snark
and stage fright are the least of her worries…

About the Author

Stephanie Wardrop grew up in Reading, Pennsylvania, a town mostly famous
for being a railroad card in Monopoly. After giving up on her childhood goal of
becoming a pirate, she decided to become a writer but took a detour through
lots of college and grad school and ended up teaching writing and British and
American literature. She's the author of the Swoon Romance e-novella series
Snark and Circumstance, based on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, and lives
in western New England with her husband, kids, cats, and gecko.

Author Links:

   

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Cover Reveal: Highballs in the Hamptons by Delancey Stewart

Highballs in the Hamptons (Girlfriends of Gotham #2)

by Delancey
Stewart 

Release Date: 09/3014

Swoon Romance

Summary from Goodreads:

Sequel to Men &
Martinis

(Official Summary Coming Soon!)

***

Men and Martinis (Girlfriends of Gotham #1)

by Delancey Stewart

Release Date: 12/03/13

Summary from Goodreads:

Candace Kanie wins at every game she plays. From the boardroom to the bar, she’s confident, clever, perhaps just a tad overbearing. It’s not easy for a girl like Candace to admit that love may be the one game she can’t win…at least not until she’s willing to change her strategy. In Men and Martinis, Candace Kanie will learn that sometimes to be at the top of your game, you have to hit rock bottom.

Men and Martinis is the first release in Delancey Stewart’s series “Girlfriends of Gotham” – a voyeuristic voyage through the lives of a group of twenty-something girls who dance, date, and drink their way through Manhattan during the days of the dot com boom. During an era when the up-and-comers in New York were partying like Studio 54 had never died, this group of friends discovers that the city is theirs for the taking; and they find their often-hilarious way through the forces that work to redefine the way they know themselves and each other.

Available from:

 

About the Author

I'm not big on labels, but there are a few that fit me (not necessarily in this order. Or maybe in this order):
- wine drinker (and wine geek)
- mother of small boys
- military spouse
- writer
- chocolate eater

I've written the Wine Country Romance Series, which ties my love of wine to my love of falling in love... and the Girlfriends of Gotham series, which begins publishing with Swoon Romance in December 2013.

I also love short stories, and my themed collection (all set in the same NYC brownstone across the span of a century) published in 2012. 

Author Links:

   

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