Jinxed Blog Tour

Jinxed
Thommy Hutson
Publication date: March 13th 2018
Genres: Horror, Thriller, Young Adult

High School Can Be a Real Killer
Break a mirror
Walk under a ladder
Step on a crack
Innocent childhood superstitions …
But someone at the secluded Trask Academy of Performing Arts is taking things one deadly step further when the campus is rocked with the deaths of some of its star students.
Layna Curtis, a talented, popular senior, soon realizes that the seemingly random, accidental deaths of her friends aren’t random—or accidents—at all. Someone has taken the childhood games too far, using the idea of superstitions to dispose of their classmates. As Layna tries to convince people of her theory, she uncovers the terrifying notion that each escalating, gruesome murder leads closer to its final victim: her.
Will Layna’s opening night also be her final bow?

MY THOUGHTS:  Once again this month I ended up grabbing with a school setting, except this time it is a privileged Academy of Performing Arts.  There seems to be quite a few fans of school settings, boarding and otherwise, out  there and I think "Jinxed" is a book many would enjoy. 

When reading this book I was reminded of some of the more well-known 90's slasher films such as "I Know What You Did Last Summer" where someone is racing against time to solve a murder mystery before they themselves fall victim.  In this case, it's Layna.  While I didn't find Layna particularly likable, I did feel invested in what happened to her so the book was still enjoyable.  In addition, the incorporation of superstitions and tying them into the deaths added some extra flair.

"Jinxed" is a fun and quick read and I will be looking forward to seeing what this author comes up with next.

RATING: 3 PAWS

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Author Bio:
Born and raised in Upstate New York, Thommy graduated from UCLA and launched his career co-writing the story for the Warner Bros. animated hit SCOOBY-DOO IN WHERE’S MY MUMMY? He followed that with co-writing the concept and additional material for CHILL OUT, SCOOBY-DOO!
His career then took a thrilling turn when he wrote and produced several definitive genre film retrospectives for television and home entertainment: SCREAM: THE INSIDE STORY, NEVER SLEEP AGAIN: THE ELM STREET LEGACY, MORE BRAINS! A RETURN TO THE LIVING DEAD and HIS NAME WAS JASON: 30 YEARS OF FRIDAY THE 13th.
He was also a staff writer on Hulu’s daily web series “The Morning After,” a smart, witty, pop culture program aimed at getting viewers up-to-date on the latest entertainment news and celebrity interviews.
Thommy also produced the critically acclaimed feature THE TROUBLE WITH THE TRUTH, an insightful relationship drama starring Lea Thompson and John Shea. He also produced DREAMWORLD, a quirky, romantic dramedy.
He co-wrote and produced ANIMAL for Chiller Films and Drew Barrymore’s Flower Films. The project debuted in iTunes’ top ten horror films (reaching #1) and became the network’s highest-rated original movie.
Continuing his passion for uncovering the stories behind the story, he went on to produce CRYSTAL LAKE MEMORIES: THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF FRIDAY THE 13th, which is the most comprehensive look at the popular film franchise.
As an author Thommy crafted a limited-edition coffee table book detailing the making and legacy of Wes Craven’s 1984 classic A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. A trade version distributed by Simon & Schuster reached number one in Amazon.com’s Movie History & Criticism category. He also has a deal with Vesuvian Media to write a YA thriller trilogy with the first book due out spring 2017.
He produced and made his feature directorial debut with THE ID, an independent psychological drama/thriller. Filmmaker Magazine stated it was “a deeply unsettling thriller that’s as moving as it is frightening…with skillful, provocative direction that has echoes of early Polanski.”
Most recently, Thommy wrote the screenplay for CineTel Films’ supernatural horror film TRUTH OR DARE. He is also directing, writing and producing a documentary with Clive Barker’s Seraphim Films in addition to developing other film and television properties with the company.
As an author, he is currently writing another book that definitively details the history, making and legacy of another fan-favorite genre film from the 1980s.
A member of the Producers Guild of America, Thommy continues to develop unique, compelling and provocative projects across multiple genres for film, television, publishing, and home entertainment through his company Hutson Ranch Media.

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Dark Glitter Blog Tour

Dark Glitter
C.M. Stunich & Tate James
Publication date: January 24th 2018
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Thriller

Ciarah O’Rourke was born into torture.
A human spirit reincarnated in the body of an ancient fae goddess, she’s spent the last five years in iron shackles, her mind poisoned with magic for secrets she doesn’t know.
Waking up in a dirty alley with no memory of her escape, Ciarah finds herself in the hands of The Wild Hunt Motorcycle Club–a ruthless and violent group of bikers with faerie blood in their veins.
Arlo. Reece. Killian.
Three men drenched in death, sin, and old magic.
From their clubhouse in the middle of the Louisiana bayou, they’ll offer Ciarah the keys to unlock her memories and control the veil between worlds. But even her knights can’t erase the twisted scars that remind her they aren’t the only ones who hunt.
When The Wild Hunt rides, the souls of the dead join their parade.
All that’s missing now is their queen.

EXCERPT:

The girl I'd been fucking was now fast asleep and drooling all da hell over my pillow. I stared at her for a couple o' moments, smoking my cigarette, and then stepped out into the hall and shut the door to da damn room. 

 “You aren't leaving another one in dere for me to clean up, are you brother?” asked Donal as I made my way into the common room and paused, staring the vice president of the club down for a long moment. He was my superior so it woulda been prudent to look away, sure, but I was a dumbass on a good day, me. 

 “I'm just on my way to see Meme,” I said with a shrug, and heard Donal cursing under his breath. 

 “I'd just as soon eat her as I'd feed the bitch!” he called after me as I stepped outside, boots loud against the wood of the dock. An eerie fog hung over the water, broken up by clusters of Spanish moss and gnarled oak limbs. 

 I cracked open the old freezer next to the building's grubby exterior and pulled out a container of chicken, popping the lid and grabbing a raw leg. 

 “'Ey Meme!” I shouted, tossing the container back into the freezer and grabbing a bag of marshmallows to take wit' me. “Come 'ere, girl!” 

 I moved down da length of the dock and paused, knowing I looked like a fuckin' asshole and not carin' one bit. I made quacking sounds to try and draw da gator to the dock and then tossed a few 'mallows out there for her to munch on. Whenever I tried to bring girls out 'ere to impress 'em with da gators, they always asked me how I knew da damn things liked marshmallows. But what kind o' stupid question is that? Everybody know gators like marshmallows. 

 After a few moments, I saw her, gliding through the water toward me, her dark green head just barely visible in the fog. If I wasn't fae, I probably wouldn't come out here alone in the dark like dis. Meme was small for a gator, but there were others out dere in the swamp—I knew because the club often used 'em to dispose of bodies. 

 “Hey girl, where you been?” I asked, using the pole at the end of the dock to hook the chicken leg to. I dangled it out over the water and watched as Meme lifted her long, ugly snout out to grab hold of it. With a crunch of bone, she disappeared under the dark waters again. 

 I stood there for a few, takin' drags on my smoke, when the sound of a car drew my attention back toward the hard packed dirt of the parking lot. We didn't exactly get a lot o' visitors out 'ere in da bayou. 

 “Looks like even if we stay outta trouble, trouble finds us, eh, Meme?” I tossed a handful of marshmallows into the water and headed up the length of the dock and back inside. I stepped in through the rickety old screen door just in time to see Caley dragging this thin, frail wisp of a girl into the common room. 

 “She's got iron in her side, I think,” Caley was saying as she helped the girl into one of da old couches. I saw right away that there was blood—fae blood, sure—but the stink o' iron was unmistakable.

 “And you brought her here, why?” Donal was asking, looking more annoyed than anything else as he stroked a hand down the dark, thick length of his beard. 

 “Arlo said Fionn needed to see her,” Caley began, ruffling up her hair and lookin' like she was in serious need of a nap or some shit. I just hoped all this raucous didn't wake da girl I left in the dorm room. 

 “Well, Fionn ain't here,” I said, moving over to stand next to the wilting fae on the club's couch. Her skin was a pale blue, almost white, but she was clearly still entertainin' some sort of broken glamour. I could smell it on 'er almost as bad as I could smell da iron. Who knew what she'd look like without it? I wouldn't be gettin' human girls for my bed if I wasn't wearin' one, that's for damn sure. 

 “I found her outside the diner,” Caley said, huffing out a breath and wiping sweaty palms on her uniform. “I don't think 'Lo knew she was fae or else he wouldn't have suggested I take her to the hospital …” 

 “You took her to da damn hospital?” Donal roared and then closed his eyes for a long moment. “May da goddess help you, you stupid girl.” 

 “The glamour's faded a lot since I got her there,” Caley said defensively, wrapping her arms around herself. Guess the girl couldn't help herself—she was half-human after all. “She wasn't this color and she didn't smell this bad until after …” She paused and leaned in close to Donal and me. “Someone is missing this girl bad. That iron in her side, it's got a dampening spell. That, and when she used her magic, I could feel it—some sort of signal went out.”

 I turned my attention back to the frail, wispy thing sitting on the couch. 

 When she looked up at me, her eyes had the force of a goddamn train. I felt like I was just waiting for the collision, that I was looking at somethin' powerful, something old. And those eyes, like two sapphires, dark and thick wit' magic … I could damn near drown in 'em. 

 “Get yourself under control, brudder,” Donal mumbled, flicking me in the crotch. That's when I realized that I was holding onto a rock-hard cock inside my jeans. Over this frail thing? I'd break da girl if I tried to fuck her. The hell was wrong with me? “And call your daddy.”

“He's my president same as he is yours,” I snarled under my breath, turning away from the girl before I could think too hard about the rapid beating of my heart or the thickening of my cock. No way, no hell.

I was not gettin' mixed up with a woman as troublesome as all that. 

I made enough trouble all on my own.

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Author Bio:

Tate James was born and raised in the Land of the Long White Cloud (New Zealand) but now lives in Australia with her husband, baby and furbaby.
She is a lover of books, red wine, cats and coffee and is not a morning person. She is a bit too sarcastic and swears too much for polite society and definitely tells too many dirty jokes.

Author links:
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C.M. Stunich is a self-admitted bibliophile with a love for exotic teas and a whole host of characters who live full time inside the strange, swirling vortex of her thoughts. Some folks might call this crazy, but Caitlin Morgan doesn’t mind – especially considering she has to write biographies in the third person. Oh, and half the host of characters in her head are searing hot bad boys with dirty mouths and skillful hands (among other things). If being crazy means hanging out with them everyday, C.M. has decided to have herself committed.

She hates tapioca pudding, loves to binge on cheesy horror movies, and is a slave to many cats. When she’s not vacuuming fur off of her couch, C.M. can be found with her nose buried in a book or her eyes glued to a computer screen. She’s the author of over thirty novels – romance, new adult, fantasy, and young adult included. Please, come and join her inside her crazy. There’s a heck of a lot to do there.

Oh, and Caitlin loves to chat (incessantly), so feel free to e-mail her, send her a Facebook message, or put up smoke signals. She’s already looking forward to it.

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The Boy Who Swallows Flies Blog Tour

The Boy Who Swallows Flies
Michael F. Stewart
Publication date: February 15th 2018
Genres: Middle-Grade, Mystery, Superhero

Winner of the Claymore Award!
Warning – Rated Kids-Only for Bug Violence
Jarrod can view the memories of any bug. He just has to eat it. It’s not the tastiest of superpowers and, let’s face it, fly memories aren’t all unicorns and rainbows. Eating insects also doesn’t net him many friends, and Bug-boy is an unavoidable nickname. But Jarrod’s ready to prove that he and his bugs are worth more than ridicule.
When he swallows a fly while biking, he’s in for a shock. The bug saw a room stacked full of sick dogs and puppies in crates. It’s a puppy mill, and Jarrod needs to save the animals. But the flight range of the common housefly is five miles. Even if the police believed him, with no evidence, they can’t help. It’s up to Jarrod.
Trained cockroaches survey neighborhood basements. A fly taped to a window makes an excellent sentry. Every beetle, mosquito, caterpillar—don’t eat the fuzzy yellow ones—spider and centipede is his edible sidekick.
Will Jarrod save the dogs? Or is it all too much to swallow?

MY THOUGHTS:  This book was just so much fun to read and I recommend it to anyone who has a child even vaguely interested in reading.  While it appears that it is geared toward boys (the whole bug thing) I liked it and I'm and adult AND female so I say it's a good solid read for anyone.

Jarrod, the MC, has these "moments" which doctors cannot explain.  During these "moments" he passes out but when he comes to, he remembers seeing different things, but a lot of dog poop.  Jarrod eventually discovers what is going on, which is a good thing because his parents make him wear a helmet all the time in case he passes out ad it isn't winning him any popularity contests.  Apparently when Jarrod eats a bug, he can visualize it's last moments.  In doing so, Jarrod learns that there is a puppy mill somewhere in his hometown and he takes it upon himself to save the dogs!

"The Boy Who Swallows Flies" is a fun book but it's also a book about bully and friendship.  While Jarrod's parents are very present during the book, they do some pretty appalling things - like using Jarrod's "moments" for their own personal gain.

I really enjoyed reading this wonderful middle grade tale and if you can get past the fact that Jarrod ends up eating bugs (lots and lots of bugs) then you should pick it up and give it a go.

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

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Author Bio:
Michael F. Stewart is winner of both the 2015 Claymore Award and the 2014 inaugural Creation of Stories Award for best YA novel at the Toronto International Book Fair.
He likes to combine storytelling with technology and pioneered interactive storytelling with Scholastic Canada, Australia, and New Zealand’s, anti-cyberbullying program Bully For You. In addition to his award winning Assured Destruction series, he has authored four graphic novels with Oxford University Press Canada’s Boldprint series. Publications of nonfiction titles on Corruption and Children’s Rights are published by Scholastic and early readers are out with Pearson Education.
For adults, Michael has written THE SAND DRAGON a horror about a revenant prehistoric vampire set in the tar sands, HURAKAN a Mayan themed thriller which pits the Maya against the MS-13 with a New York family stuck in the middle, 24 BONES an urban fantasy which draws from Egyptian myth, and THE TERMINALS–a covert government unit which solves crimes in this realm by investigating them in the next.
Herder of four daughters, Michael lives to write in Ottawa where he was the Ottawa Public Library’s first Writer in Residence. To learn more about Michael and his next projects visit his website at www.michaelfstewart.com or connect via Twitter @MichaelFStewart.
Michael is represented by Talcott Notch.

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Romanov Blog Tour

Romanov
Samaire Provost
Publication date: January 24th 2018
Genres: New Adult, Urban Fantasy

In an abandoned warehouse in Manhattan, two enemies battle to the death, while outside, a malevolent entity watches and waits and plots, eager for blood. On an island in the heart of Seattle, an immortal princess struggles to lead a normal life just as a flood of terrifying creatures starts to pour in through a portal that should not be there. A young man meets a classmate while walking home from the college library, and embarks on the most dangerous adventure he’s ever known – will he survive? A deranged madman hunts the girl he’s lusted after for a century, in a relentless pursuit for vengeance. A prehistoric, mythical beast jealously guards a primeval land, which is leaking into present-day Seattle. A sweet, forbidden passion blossoms between two lovers who steal moments whenever they can, while unbeknownst to them, they’re hunted by a deadly creature.
A royal family threatened at its weakest – yet lethal in its own right – is stalked by an ancient evil that will not rest until they are utterly destroyed: a nightmare incarnate that has waited millions of years for revenge threatens the very existence of the young lovers and their family.
Will they prevail?

MY THOUGHTS: I was initially drawn to this book because of the cover and to be honest, it had a Gothic feel to it which I love.  What I found was a book that while not exactly Gothic, did mix history with present-day times and a tale which thrilled to the end.  I'm been somewhat hesitant with vampire books the past few years and I have to admit I tend to like my vampires on the vicious side, but "Romanov" has a nice mixture of vampires, dragons and magic.  This is a fun read and those who like a little bit of romance with their vampires would probably enjoy picking this one up.

MY RATING: 3 PAWS 

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Author Bio:
Samaire Provost lives in California with her husband and son.
Her love of paranormal stories, odd plots, and unique tales as well as the works of Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, Madeleine L’Engle and Stephen King has deeply influenced her writing.

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Smoke City Book Tour

Smoke City
Keith Rosson
Published by: Meerkat Press
Publication date: January 23rd 2018
Genres: Adult, Magical Realism

Marvin Deitz has some serious problems. His mob-connected landlord is strong-arming him out of his storefront. His therapist has concerns about his stability. He’s compelled to volunteer at the local Children’s Hospital even though it breaks his heart every week.
Oh, and he’s also the guilt-ridden reincarnation of Geoffroy Thérage, the French executioner who lit Joan of Arc’s pyre in 1431. He’s just seen a woman on a Los Angeles talk show claiming to be Joan, and absolution seems closer than it’s ever been . . . but how will he find her?
When Marvin heads to Los Angeles to locate the woman who may or may not be Joan, he’s picked up hitchhiking by Mike Vale, a self-destructive alcoholic painter traveling to his ex-wife’s funeral. As they move through a California landscape populated with “smokes” (ghostly apparitions that’ve inexplicably begun appearing throughout the southwestern US), each seeks absolution in his own way.

MY THOUGHTS:  Sometimes you just read a book that's hard to explain but which also really clicks with you.  Smoke City is that book.  So basically Marvin, one of the three MCs, believes that he is personally responsible for executing Joan of Arc many many years ago and that because of doing so, he is cursed to be reborn over and over again.  He also believes that his time is up in a few weeks.  Suddenly Marvin sees an individual who claims to be Joan of Arc reincarnated, and he is on a mission to find her and apologize.  Marvin end up teaming up with Mike, a down-on-his luck alcoholic and once famous artist whose ex-wife just died.  California is being overpopulated with ghostly apparitions called "smokes" so the third member of our crew is a wanna-be paranormal investigation named Casper - yes, you can snicker - Casper the ghost hunter!

So all three are on a road trip to Los Angeles for their own reason and honestly, it's been a long time since I've met such a likable group of unlikable characters.  These people are flawed - REALLY REALLY flawed, but man, are they fun to read about.   Smoke City is a very character driven book and I really became invested in what happened to Marvin, Mike and Casper.

This book may not be for everyone.  In fact, every time I look at the cover I think "That book must be really out there."  And it is, but man is it a fun trip to an unknown destination.

RATING: 4 PAWS

CHALLENGE:  Swords and Stars - read a book with magical realism.

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Author Bio:
Keith Rosson is the author of the novels The Mercy of the Tide (2017, Meerkat Press) and Smoke City (2018, Meerkat Press). His short fiction has appeared in Cream City Review, PANK, Redivider, December, and more. An advocate of both public libraries and non-ironic adulation of the cassette tape, he can be found at keithrosson.com.

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Blog Tour - Deadly Sweet

Deadly Sweet
Lola Dodge
(Spellwork Syndicate #1)
Published by: Ink Monster LLC
Publication date: January 16th 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult

For fans of Hex Hall, The Magicians, Practical Magic, and Food Wars!
Anise Wise loves three things: baking, potion making, and reading her spellbooks inblissful silence. She might not be the most powerful witch, but enchantment is a rare skill, and her ability to bake with magic is even rarer. Too bad one wants witchcraft on their campus. Anise’s dream of attending pastry school crumbles with rejection letter after rejection letter.
Desperate to escape her dead-end future, Anise contacts the long-lost relative she’snot supposed to know about. Great Aunt Agatha owns the only magic bakery in the US, and she suddenly needs a new apprentice. Anise is so excited she books it to New Mexico without thinking to ask what happened to the last girl.
The Spellwork Syndicate rules the local witches in Taos, but as “accidents” turn into full-out attacks on Anise’s life, their promises to keep her safe are less and less reassuring. Her cranky bodyguard is doing his best, but it’s hard to fight back when she has no idea who’s the enemy. Or why she became their target.
If Anise can’t find and stop whoever wants her dead, she’ll be more toasted than a crème brûlée.
Who knew baking cakes could be so life or death?

MY THOUGHTS:  This is a cover that grows on me each and every time I see it.  I may not have initially been a fan but once I took in all the details, especially the pentagram and skull details, I sort of fell in love. 

At first, the MC Anise, took some time to get used to.  She lacks confidence and is not very outgoing.  However, as her witchery skills develop, so does her character.    Dodge creates some interesting characters, especially in Wynn, whom I found to be adorable.  The mystery was kind of easy to figure out, but interesting enough to hold my attention.  While this book may not be for everyone, anyone interested in witchcraft or baking would be amiss not to pick it up.  I hope that the future installments focus more on the magical elements and if that is the case, the series will only get stronger as it progresses.

Also, be sure you have plenty of sugary snacks available while reading one because this book really set off the cravings.

I received this book from Xpresso Book Tours and the author in exchange for an honest review.

RATING: 4 Icing-covered Paws

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Author Bio:
Lola Dodge is a compulsive traveler, baker, and procrastinator. She earned her BA in English from Stonehill College and MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University–and hasn’t stopped moving since. When she’s not on the road, Lola spends her time indoors where the sunlight can’t melt her, writing or bingeing on anime and cherry soda. She can be summoned in a ritual involving curry, Hello Kitty idols, and a solid chocolate pentagram.

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There Be Demons...or Maybe Not

TITLE: There Be Demons
AUTHOR: M.K. Theodoratus
PUBLISHER: Wooden Pants Publishing
PUBLISHING DATE: September 26, 2017

FROM GOODREADS: When demons overrun the city, Gillen, the leader of the Gargoyle Guardians, requests reinforcements. His commanders send four untrained teens from the projects. Not only does Britt Kelly discover she must cope with a new high school but demons truly exist.


MY THOUGHTS:  I tried, I really tried.  I made it about 50 pages in and I just couldn't finish this book.  I feel badly because I think it's a case of "it's not you it's me."  I loved that one of the main characters, Gillen, is a gargoyle.  And I love the concept of Gargoyle Guardians.  However, neither the gargoyles or the book ever really took off for me.  

I read some of the reviews of "There Be Demons" and it seems to be a pretty well-loved book.  I think if the synopsis interests you, you shouldn't hesitate to pick it up just because I DNF'ed it.  In fact, I haven't even totally written the book off as I hope to give it another chance one day.

Many thanks to Xpresso Book Tours for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

MY RATING: DFN

Chosen Blog Tour

Chosen
R.S. Broadhead
(The Urban Legends Series)
Publication date: October 24th 2017
Genres: New Adult, Supernatural, Thriller

Black eyes. No emotion. No sympathy. Only emptiness.
Piper McAdams’s life was normal. Career? Check. Boyfriend? Check. Friends? Check. One unsettling run in with a homeless man turns everything from normal to terrifying. She begins seeing…things.
Things she can’t seem to explain or make any sense.
As if things aren’t already getting out of hand, Piper receives news that the only family member she has is dead. She thinks maybe a trip across the country to her hometown will get her away from all the strange events happening.
After a late night accident, Piper isn’t in her hometown burying her loved one. She’s in a town called Hell. All she wants to do is leave, but the people seem to be holding her there for some reason.
A reason she feels threatens her life. Around every corner things become darker and scarier.
Can she escape what is coming for her?

MY THOUGHTS:  I have always been fascinated with urban legends so reading this book was kind of a no-brainer.  I love the concept of Piper ending up in a town called Hell and couldn't finish this book fast enough.  Although Piper makes some questionable choices during the book, she realized she was doing so and because of this, I liked her better as a character and really cared what happened to her next.  I won't give much else away but if you love creepy books, I recommend you pick this one up next Halloween or any time of the year for that matter.  I'm very interested to see what this author comes up with next. 

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Author Bio:
R. S. Broadhead lives in Jackson, Alabama with her husband of ten years, their two little girls, and a pug named Wednesday Love the Duchess, or Winnie for short. She has a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in business administration. She loves to snowboard, travel (Australia is her favorite place so far), and dance (not professionally, just whenever she feels like it). When she was sixteen-years-old, her and her friends would take pictures and make up funny stories about them. Fourteen years later, UNVEILED was born. UNVEILED, her first novel, is the first book in a four book series.

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Romantic Vampires Drive Me Nuts!

TITLE: Princesses of the Night (Royal Blood)
AUTHORS: Teresa Fuentez & Tich Brewster
PUBLISHER: CHBB
PUBLISHING DATE: September 22, 2017

FROM GOODREADS: Tanya is a hardworking college student but her whole world is turned upside down when she meets a mysterious man on Halloween. All that she thought was fiction is now her reality. A night life filled with fangs and blood—and an evil vampire that wants her dead.

She and her friends are the chosen ones, destined long ago, to save this world from destruction. That’s not easy when your enemy is your sire’s son.

MY THOUGHTS: I feel like I'm really in the minority here but overall, I didn't enjoy "Princesses of the Night." Tanya is a college student who lives with 3 other roommates and they all happen to be best friends. These four individuals own and operate a book store (I'd like to know how that came to be because yea, all college students can own their own business at such a young age). On the way back from a Halloween party, Tanya and her friends are walking home when they are beckoned into a dark alley but a mysterious stranger. For a brief second (and I mean brief), they think something is off but then they enter the alley and soon follow this stranger home. Once there, they are all bitten and turned into 4 vampires, who are destined to save the vampire world as we know it.

First of all I felt this book was super choppy. It was under 250 pages yet had something close to 50 chapters. The format just wasn't working for me. Secondly, the characters made stupid decision after stupid decision. But that's not to say there weren't a few things I enjoyed because I did. I liked how the author portrayed the whole "vampire family" thing. Tanya and her friends were able to meet up with another vampire couple sired by the same "father" and once they did, I enjoyed the book a tad bit more. Also, I liked the "bad" vampires who are trying to kill Tanya and her crew and truth be told, I'd have probably enjoyed a book from their point of view more.

Overall I'm kind of done with the romantic vampire thing which isn't really the author's fault. I like my vampires dark, gritty and vicious and not love struck and silly. I'm sure plenty of people will enjoy this book and if you love vampire romance, it might be a book for you. Me though, I won't be finishing with the series even though this one ended on a huge cliffhanger. In my head, they all die, end of series.

I received this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

RATING: 2 PAWS

Ultimate Sacrifice Blog Tour

TITLE: Ultimate Sacrifice
AUTHORL S.E. Green
PUBLICATION DATE: October 3rd 2017
GENRES: Horror, Young Adult

Vickie has always lived a quiet, ordinary life in an equally quiet and ordinary small town. Yet one fateful night a child turns up dead in the woods behind her house in a ritualistic slaughter. Vickie and her family are suddenly thrown into a national spotlight. But as the investigation unfolds, she begins to realize her family isn’t so ordinary after all. Evil is inching closer to those she holds dear and Vickie isn’t sure who she can ultimately trust.

MY THOUGHTS:  I loved this book and I totally agree with the Mindy McGinnis quote on the front.  Vickie and her family live in a wooded area and her grandfather owns the farm next door.  One day her twin exits the forest covered in blood and she learns that a young child named Michelle, whom she regularly babysits, was found dead and the crime scene resembled a ritualistic murder.  An investigation ensues and we learn tons about Vickie's family and friends as well as the small town community.

I considered this book a short read at just about 175 pages.  I usually like more to my books but I have to admit, it really worked in this case.  It made the story seem that much more fast paced and made the situation more dire.  I really liked Vickie but I will say she is either the bravest 17 year old (because she investigates the Satanic killing on her own because she is frustrated with the police) or the stupidest.  There were times I was reading where I know I would shake my head because what she was doing could not end well at all.  And the ending!  I actually screamed and yelled.  And since the hubby was at work, the dogs looked at me like I'd lost my ever-loving mind.

If you can't tell, this book was tons of fun so I seriously recommend picking it up.

MY RATING: 4 Paws

Goodreads / Amazon

AUTHOR BIO:

S. E. Green (aka Shannon Greenland) is the award winning author of the thriller, KILLER INSTINCT, the spy series, THE SPECIALISTS, and the romances, THE SUMMER MY LIFE BEGAN and SHADOW OF A GIRL. She lives off the coast of Florida with her very grouchy dog. ULTIMATE SACRIFICE is her debut YA horror, due out October 2017.

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Damned Blog Tour

TITLE: Damned 
AUTHORS: Alexandrea Weis & Lucas Astor
PUBLICATION DATE: October 3rd 2017
GENRES: Adult, Supernatural

Over a hundred years after the death of Magnus Blackwell, Altmover Manor sits abandoned.
Lexie Arden and her fiancé, Will Bennet, are determined to rescue the neglected Mount Desert Island landmark. They want to make Altmover Manor their home. But Magnus has other plans.
A spirit bound to his former residence, Magnus finds himself inexplicably drawn to the young woman. She has a supernatural gift; a gift Magnus wants to exploit.
As Lexie and Will settle in, secrets from Magnus’s past begin to surface. Compelled to learn all she can about the former owner, Lexie becomes immersed in a world of voodoo, curses, and the whereabouts of a mysterious dragon cane.
Magnus’s crimes won’t be so easily forgotten, and what Lexie unearths is going to change the future … for everyone.

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MY THOUGHTS: This book had a lot of buzz words for me which is probably why I wanted so desperately to be part of the tour.  We have a neglected historical haunted house, curses, spirits, voodoo and lot of dragon references.  Also, there were hints about Lexie having a supernatural gift and I pretty much had to find out what that gift was. 

First I have to say that my copy of this book was beautiful.  I don't normally like people on the cover, but I think the model's eyes, coupled with the dragon cane and mansion on the hill work great together.  Next, there are flourishes at the beginning of the chapters and the chapter number is done in color - basically unheard of on my Kindle.  It's all in the details people! 

Next, I felt an immediate connection to the characters and I needed to know if Magnus was good, bad or somewhere in between.  It was fun being with Lexie as she journeys to different areas looking for a lost relic and the descriptive methods used by the authors made me feel like I was seeing this run-down house for the first time and visiting the locations along with Lexie.

I don't want to give too much away because I went into the actual plot pretty blind, and I think I enjoyed it all the better because of it.  I have discovered there is a prequel novel (Blackwell 0.5) which provides more into Magus' backstory and I've already purchased it for my Kindle.  If you enjoy the things mentioned in the first paragraph, then definitely consider picking this book up!

Alexandrea Weis, PhD, is an award-winning author of twenty-five novels, a screenwriter, ICU Nurse, and historian who was born and raised in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Having grown up in the motion picture industry as the daughter of a director, she learned to tell stories from a different perspective and began writing at the age of eight. Infusing the rich tapestry of her hometown into her novels, she believes that creating vivid characters makes a story moving and memorable. A permitted/certified wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, Weis rescues orphaned and injured animals. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans. Weis writes paranormal, suspense, thrillers, horror, crime fiction, and romance. ~Winner of the gold medal from Reader's Favorite Book Awards for Romantic Suspense, the Silver Medal from the Foreword Magazine Book of the Year awards for Romance, the gold medal from the Feathered Quill Book Awards for Romance, and an InD’Tale Magazine RONE winner for Paranormal Romance. Weis is a member of the Horror Writers Association

Lucas Astor is from New York, has resided in Central America and the Middle East, and traveled through Europe. He lives a very private, virtually reclusive lifestyle, preferring to spend time with a close-knit group of friends than be in the spotlight.

He is an author and poet with a penchant for telling stories that delve into the dark side of the human psyche. He likes to explore the evil that exists, not just in the world, but right next door behind a smiling face.

Photography, making wine, and helping endangered species are just some of his interests. Lucas is an expert archer and enjoys jazz, blues, and classical music.

One of his favorite quotes is: “It’s better to be silent than be a fool.” ~Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird)

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The Witches of Auburn Blog Tour

TITLE: The Witches of Auburn: The Gifts of Our Mothers 
AUTHOR: Hazel Black
PUBLISHER: Brunswick House
PUBLISHING DATE: October 2, 2017

FROM GOODREADS: In the dark woods I’m forbidden to go into, lying on top of the one person I swore I’d stay away from, and hiding from the men who chased him, I hold still as Ike Kennedy whispers in my ear, “Don’t leave me.”

The questions of why my mother packed up our lives and moved us to Auburn, New Jersey when she, herself, fled here twenty years ago, plague me every day. Her past and the people in this town loom over our family with a haunting understanding of the coven I was born into, but realize I know nothing about. The enemies I heard stories about as a child attack without warning or regard for human life, but I don’t know who they are.

I’m Ever Ayars. I can fly. I can disappear. I can move things with my mind, but my gifts are my only clarity. Lost within a new school, new friends, and a new life, there is only one thing I know for sure.

I’m not leaving Ike Kennedy.

MY THOUGHTS:  When I agreed to review "The Witches of Auburn: The Gifts of Our Mothers" I had no idea I would like the book as much as I do. I am automatically drawn to witchy books and knew I'd be reading it in October, so it seemed like a solid, safe pick. However, this book drew me in and kept me captivated so easily that upon finishing, I went to Amazon and picked up the next book in the series as well as a novella. 

"The Witches of Auburn" weaves two tales together uniting them in one final outcome. We have two covens - an adult one and then one which consists of their daughters. When Helene was 18, she was betrayed by her boyfriend and best friend, which broke the original coven and initiated a curse that would follow them for years. 17 years later, after suffering some severe losses, Helene's coven moves back to Auburn where the three ladies live with their three daughters - Ever, Maya and Ruby. These three also form a coven but they soon learn something is missing. Ever meets Ike at school and there is an immediate attraction. There is also some connection to his sister Gwen. Helene and Ike's mother Gisele forbid the two to date, which we all know in teenage-speak is the same as throwing them together on a deserted island where no one else exists.

I liked that this book tackled both the adult and teen sides of the spectrum. Several chapters were told through Helene's perspective and the author does a really good job at handling obvious teenage tropes yet not falling into some pitfalls I usually find when reading YA - specifically love triangles and insta-love. I really liked Ever, but enjoyed the adult characters even more and loved learning about their history and magical shenanigans.

This book is about family - those you are forced into and those you chose, friendships, loss and love. It's also about healing and creating your own fate with some paranormal aspects and some creepy individuals added in for extra intrigue. As I mentioned, I can't wait to continue the series and since the book left on a pretty good cliffhanger, I'm just thrilled I was able to get the next book so soon.

RATING: 4 PAWS