Book Review: Dire By Alyssa Rose Ivy

**September**

Dire

(Dire Wolves Chronicles #1)

By Alyssa Rose Ivy

Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance

Release Day: September 15th

Gage was the first guy I ever wanted. He was my first crush and my first fantasy, but he wasn't my first in any other way because he never saw me as anything more than a friend— at least not until the night that changed everything.

It was all Gage's fault. He insisted we drive through the storm and take the back roads. By the time the storm hit full force we had no chance. One night of snowbound sex changed our relationship forever. The problem was at the same time I caught another guy’s attention. This other guy happened to be the alpha of a pack of shifter wolves. I thought the wolves were the worst of my problems, but I was wrong. When things went from bad to worse I had to make a lifelong sacrifice to save Gage, but what price is too much to save the one you love?

Available At:

| Amazon | iBooks | GooglePlay | Kobo |

Check Out The Other Books In This Trilogy:

(Linked to my review)

My Review:

* I received an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.

I have a love-hate relationship with this book. I still can't tell you how I finished it and actually wanted to write up a review.

The first 24% of this book didn't capture me. It was actually SO unrealistic that I felt it pushed the fictional romance boundaries, to me. First of all, why would anyone in their right mind decide to "out run" a snowstorm just to avoid being on campus for another 2-3 days? Why would they not call home and say something to someone that they were actually going? Why would they throw common sense out the window and still go through with it? To say the least, after that 24% I stopped reading.  

A few weeks passed (and this being an ARC I had agreed to review and create a promo post on release day), and I had received the media kit and was creating my post. It came along with an excerpt and being that I hadn't read the full book I went along and skimmed through it. What I read sounded pretty darn awesome to me. So I went back to the book and skimmed through a chapter or two and found myself actually getting into the story.

You know that feeling when you know something is wrong, but you can't look away? Well that's how I felt reading this book. I disliked both guys in the love triangle and yet I still wanted to know the out come of the story. Maybe it was the creep factor that was coming off this book in waves. I still don't know who to root for and that's what has me most intrigued. The cliffhanger actually did something for this book, which I was NOT expecting.

I will pick up Book #2 just to see what happens next.

My Rating:
(Average rating because the unexpected ending leveled out my hate of the first 24% of this book)

Book Blitz: Black Atonement (Vulcan Legacies #3) By Sasha Hibbs

Black Atonement
(Vulcan Legacies #3)
By Sasha Hibbs


Release Date: 09/26/14
Publisher: Evernight Teen

The burden of Dave’s girlfriend’s death pushes Brandi, the Seraph of Love, to abduct David Howels hoping she can protect Dave from his murderous father, Ragnar, and also atone for all her sins. Leaving a trail of broken hearts, will Brandi be able to show Dave that all in life is not lost in death? Twists and turns abound as Brandi discovers her own shocking revelation: That Dave has been her soul mate all along.

Separating Dave and herself from their allies on the threshold of the apocalypse, Brandi turns to an old friend for help-a witch-to aid her in her quest to prepare Dave to face his worst fears and her own. Filled with curses, secrets that threaten to destroy everything, Brandi must find forgiveness from within before she can find love with a boy she’s forced to hate her. In the past, healing a broken heart would’ve been easy, but now faced with the task of healing Dave’s broken heart while not exposing her own, Brandi learns why love is truly the greatest gift of all.

Available At:

| Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books |

Check Out The Other Books In This Series:

(Covers linked to Goodreads)

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**Excerpt**

When that flaming arrow pierced Lucy Nashoba’s heart, Brandi instantly felt the severed connection between Lucy and Dave. It lacerated her own heart, splitting it in two. She would have gladly switched places with Lucy to spare Dave the heartache that currently exhausted his body. 

It was all so clear now. Brandi had wallowed in self-loathing for so long, she couldn’t see what had been in front of her, couldn’t identify with what it was like to love anymore. She didn’t know what to do, how to tell him, how to begin. After all her misery, Brandi didn’t feel she deserved a second chance at so heavy a cost. Edgar Byron Warwick, son of Vulcan, was not her soul mate. David Howels, son of Ragnar, fallen pack leader of the Hell Hounds, was. 

Brushing a red curl away from his brow, Brandi had one last thought before drifting off into sleep: how would she ever atone for all her sins? 

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**Teaser Picture**

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About The Authors:

By age 5, Sasha Hibbs' favorite movie was Gone With the Wind. By age 12, she completed her 7th grade book report on the sequel, Scarlett. By 18, she met and married her very own Mr. Rhett Butler and as it turns out, she never had to worry about going back to Tara to win the love of her life back. Fortunately, he stuck with her.

With a love of all things paranormal, the ambiance of the South with its gigantic antebellum mansions and canopies of Spanish moss, and a love for her husband’s rich storytelling of blacksmiths and the mythology surrounding their origins, it wasn’t long until the world of her debut novel, Black Amaranth, was born.

When not working her day job as a nurse, you can find Sasha dreaming of her next beach trip, reading the latest YA novel, and drinking more white chocolate mocha than she should.

Sasha lives in mountainous West Virginia with her husband, Tim, and their two daughters, Aeliza and Ava. She is currently hard at work on her next novel in The Vulcan Legacies series.

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**Giveaway**

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Hosted By:

In My Mailbox: #SWAG!

**In My Mailbox**

Since I live so far out of reach from most of my favorite US authors, this 'series' on my blog will be few and far between, BUT sometimes I do luck out and find authors who are willing to send swag my way!!

The items below actually got to me in the last month or so. I haven't had time to take pictures and everything until today so...

Without farther ado I give you the SWAG I received!!

I received this all the way from Australia a few months ago and never posted about! It started out as a bracelet, but the string broke. So now I wear it as a charm on my necklace! I've received a lot of compliments on it and more then a few envious looks when I say I won it from an author! C: 

Thanks again Allison Rushby!

I won this from the blog tour I participated in for the release of Shrouded In Blackness By Norma Jeanne Karlsson! I didn't actually believe I'd win, but it happened!

This got here about 2 weeks ago and I'd like to say I HUGE Thank you to Book Nerd Tours & to Norma Jeanne Karlsson!!

I participated the The Hunt For Tomorrow event and won a few pens from one of the participating authors: Megan Thomason!!

She's the author of Daynight. It's a apocalyptic dystopian tale in the young adult reading genre. I'm planning to read it....eventually C:

Thanks Megan Thomason!!

Book Look #26: Viola Doyle Or An Unconventional Gift By Amy Lynn Spitzley

Hiya My Little Predators!!

Hope you enjoy!! C:

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Book Looks was created by @Jen and Books and Other Happy Ever Afters.

This Week:

Viola Doyle or An Unconventional Gift

By Amy Lynn Spitzley

For my previous Book Looks click here!

Follow me on Shoplook for more!

Double Cover Reveal: Fix Up & Change Up By Stephanie Witter

Fix Up
(Patch Up #2)

By Stephanie Witter


Releasing: October 14th

Saying “I love you'' doesn’t erase the old scars and fears.

"I love you to insanity. I'm not even sure if it's a good thing.'' — Duke

Skye is trying to overcome what happened with Sean. Now that she’s slowly healing, both physically and mentally, she’s determined to do something she should have done sooner.

She’s meeting twice a week with a new, very young therapist, Dr. Marshall.

There, she’s able to talk freely, unwind, and question things. Most of the sessions she talks about herself and her hangups, along with her relationship with Duke, which is still on rocky ground.

"I want to taste his sweat. I want to hear his groans. I want to feel him inside of me.'' — Skye

But while Skye is slowly getting back on her feet, Duke feels like he's drowning. He’s afraid of pushing her too much, of initiating intimacy, and it’s weighing between them. Moreover, knowing that he's not the one she’s talking to anymore is making him feel things he never thought possible.

"It’s a matter of when I’ll stop fighting." — Duke

As days pass, Duke is showing over and over how vulnerable he truly is and how Skye has more power over him than she ever imagined.

When Skye sees how they keep hurting each other, she’s determined to do everything in her power to make things right, no matter what the cost. But one thing is still sure; she can count on Duke whenever she needs him, even if they disagree and fight. When Duke loves, he loves with everything he’s made of, the good and the bad.

"Loving her is confusing, making me afraid of myself and what I can do ... because I can break us both." — Duke

______________________

Change Up
(Patch Up #3)

By Stephanie Witter

Releasing: Late November.

In Patch Up and Fix Up you had Skye and Duke’s story. Now, it’s time for Derek and Kate to find their path.

He fights for the people he loves.

She fights against love.

Kate Andrews is starting her second year of college in Seattle. She is happy to leave Chicago and her dysfunctional family behind to be with her friends again. Growing up she thought that her parents' loveless marriage was all her father’s fault, but that summer she discovered that things are so much more complicated in life and love.

Her mother is bipolar. That doesn’t mean her father isn’t unfaithful, nor does he support her and her choices. Additionally, he isn't a great father or husband, but it brings a new perspective in her life; the way she envisions love.

Derek Williams graduated college a few months ago, and while he moved back in again with his single mother and teenage brother, he never thought that he would be struggling with two crappy jobs. He is not succeeding in either of his jobs or in his countless plans for the future.

Instead, he’s trying to bring back his brother and set him on a straight path, while trying to avoid the wrong crowd hounding him, thanks to his brother. Together with fighting his mother on her lack of support in their family, this all has caused chaos.

“Yes, my life is a fucking mess. I have nothing for that girl who deserves everything, and yet I still can’t just sit on my ass and wait for the next asshole to pursue her.‘' — DEREK

Both of them are very different. Their upbringing is opposite; their vision of love and life contrast, and yet …

“I want to open up to it, open up to the possibility of heartbreak even if I’m scared to death. I’m ready to change up.'' — KATE

They’re both still hung up on each other.

They can’t forget that one night they shared months ago, can’t ignore their attraction and quickly maturing love. They match in every way that matters, but time and time again their respective families are getting in the way.

"He’s the commitment kind while I’m anti-commitment." — KATE

Are they willing to fight for each other? Is Kate ready to risk her comfort and everything else for love? Is Derek prepared to chose which battles are worth fighting for?

“It’s never been friendship, and it’ll never be.’’ — DEREK

Check Out The Other Books In This Series:

(Linked To Goodreads)

The first book in the series, Patch Up, is currently on sale!! 

$0.99

for a limited time to celebrate its 1 year anniversary!!

| Amazon |

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**Teaser Picture**

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About The Author:

Stephanie Witter is a French dreamer. She started learning English at three, and fell in love with the language. Always with a book, or two close by, she started reading in English when she couldn't wait any longer for Harry Potter to be translated in French. After a while, reading wasn't enough. She started writing Young Adult and New Adult Contemporary novels and PATCH UP is her first New Adult Contemporary novel.

| Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Blog | Website |

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**Giveaway**

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The Power Of Book Covers: Undeniably Chosen (Significance #5) By Shelly Crane

They say don't judge a book by it's movie...err...COVER. 

BUT they never said we couldn't PRAISE them.

This week's cover:

Undeniably Chosen

(Significance #5)

By Shelly Crane 

Ava has watched her parents, Caleb and Maggie, live the perfect fairy tale, the perfect love story, played out in front of her eyes her entire life. Her family is love, life, and happiness. The Jacobsons are everything a family should be and Ava is loved and well taken care of. But the one thing that’s missing from her life is the one thing she’s waited for every day, the one thing her kind knows will make them complete, the one thing they thought was gone and lost forever.

Her significant.

Seth has lived with the Watsons his entire life. They’re the only family he knows, but he knows that there are things they keep from him. He knows that they lie and they do unspeakable evil, things from when he was a child that he can barely remember that cling to the edges of his memory. He barely remembers his real mother and all he knows is what he’s told. He doesn’t know what to trust. He wants to believe that the Watsons love and care for him, have his best interest at heart, but isn’t so sure of that anymore when he finally—after a lifetime of waiting for her—meets his soulmate, and the Watson’s first act is to try to take her away from him.

The Virtuoso worlds collide, hearts are exposed, humans are endangered, and the lives of Seth and Ava are changed forever. They’ll have to love without judgment or reservation, they’ll have to be wise and accepting beyond their years, they’ll have to forgive for things before they’ve even happened, they’ll have to trust without seeing, have faith without knowing, and they’ll have to light their own way in the dark when everyone else is blind to show them the way. And more than anything else…

They’ll fight like hell to keep each other.

Book Review: Wanted: Wild Thing By Jessica Sims

Wanted: Wild Thing

(Midnight Liasions #4)

By Jessica Sims

Length: 384 pages
Published: August 26th 2014

The final book in a romance series set in a “fun, sexy world” (USA TODAY), where paranormals seek love through a dating service called Midnight Liaisons.

Ryder is hiding a dark secret from her coworkers at Midnight Liaisons. Every time she’s sexually attracted to a man, her dragon side breaks through. Not exactly man-bait! But she needs to lose her virginity before her twenty-fifth birthday, or she’ll become a dragon forever.

Her solution? Big, hunky Hugh, the appointed guardian of her chastity. He’s clearly hot for her, but he has powerful reasons to resist Ryder. Can temptation—and love—possibly find a way?

Available At:

| Kobo | Amazon | B&N | iBooks |

Check Out The Other Books In This Series:

(Linked to my reviews)

My Review:

This series is such a guilty pleasure of mine! I don't usually like chick lit, but this series just calls to me. It's always so cute in an unpredictable way. The love Mrs. Sims writing style and that's probably what makes this such an enjoyable and silly read.

Ryder was always that character that you'd eventually want to know more about, but got distracted with the real story line in the other novels. She's the flirty office assistant that everybody likes, but she has a secret. The aforementioned secret was loosely mentioned in the previous novels, but it was never in the spotlight. It was really satisfying to finally get a glimpse of what she was hiding. After the first chapter, I was hooked.

Hugh was the shifter version of a neanderthal. His animal (much like the homo neanderthalensis) is extinct. Though it takes some time for the reveal to happen, I was still flabbergasted. I loved that plot twist. My guesses were all out of the ball park. At one point (because of Hugh's size and his mention of primordials) I was guessing dinosaur. 

By the end when all of Hugh's "brothers" agree to get out of dodge I was having a laughing fit! It's so funny to see these adult beings handling modern technology (something that's considered the usual for most of us) like strange unknown contraptions.

I must admit that I did predict a few turn of events. I also thought the ending felt a little TOO neatly tied up. It seemed like the author could have prolonged that as a subplot for another character, but chose not to. I wonder what she has in store for the future of most of these characters.

Conclusion: I really hope there will be more books/novellas in this series.

My Favorite Quotes:

"He glared at me. 'My drinking vessel broke'".

"Bring us to the land of eager women. I will feed them".

"The best day of my life was the day I agreed to ruin yours (...)".

My Rating:

Debut Author 2014: Stacey O'Neale

Hosted By YA Reads

Mortal Enchantment
(Mortal Enchantment #1)
By Stacey O'Neale


Length: 230 pages
Published: May 20th 2014

Publisher: Phoenix Reign Publishing

“Mortal Enchantment spins a unique twist on elemental mythology. This series is not to be missed.” 

- Jennifer L. Armentrout, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

In Kalin Matthew's world, elementals control the forces of nature. They are divided into four courts: air, woodland, fire, and water. At sixteen she will leave the life she's built with her mortal mother. Kalin will move to Avalon to rule with her father—the elemental king of the air court. Along the way, she's attacked by a fire court assassin and saved by Rowan, a swoon-worthy elemental with a questionable past.

Worst of all, she learns her father is missing.

To rescue him, Kalin will have to work with a judgmental council and a system of courts too busy accusing each other of deceit to actually be able to help her. But, they aren’t her biggest challenge. With the Midwinter’s Ball only five days away, Kalin must take over her father’s duties, which includes shifting control of the elements—power Kalin has yet to realize.

As Rowan attempts to train her, a war looms between the four courts. If Kalin fails, her father will die and the courts will fall, but the betrayal she’s about to uncover may cost her even more...

Available At:

| Amazon |

Before you read MORTAL ENCHANTMENT, make sure you check out the #FREE prequel novella: THE SHADOW PRINCE!

The Shadow Prince
(Mortal Enchantment #0.5)
By Stacey O'Neale

Every sacrifice has consequences.

Sixteen-year-old Rowan has spent most of his life living among the mortals—learning to control the element of fire, impatiently awaiting the day his vengeful mother, Queen Prisma, will abdicate her throne. When he finally returns to Avalon for his coronation, his mother insists he must first prove his loyalty to the court by completing a secret mission:

Kill Kalin, the half-human, half-elemental daughter of the air court king.

Willing to do anything to remove his mother from power, he agrees to sacrifice the halfling. He returns to the mortal world with his best friend, Marcus, determined to kill the princess. But as he devises a plan, he starts to question whether or not he's capable of completing such a heinous task. And what price he will pay if he refuses?

Available At:

| Amazon | B&N |

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**Guest Post**

Top Ten Fun Facts No One Knows About the Mortal Enchantment Series

By Stacey O'Neale

*Everything in red and italic are my opinion.

• Ariel got her name from The Little Mermaid. It's my favorite Disney movie. (I totally agree with you there C:)
• Marcus was originally named Gabriel or Gabe.
• Rowan was originally in another book I wrote...and he was a fallen angel. (What happened to this "other book"? I love me a fallen angel!)
• Kalin was originally named Selene.
• Kalin has red hair because I always wanted red hair. I tried it once, but it doesn't look good on me.
• I choose Avalon as the location because I wanted to weave the series with popular Arthurian mythology.
• Fragile Reign will introduce a few very well-known characters and stories from mythology into the series.
• Marcus wasn't originally in Mortal Enchantment. I wrote him in during final edits because readers loved him so much in The Shadow Prince. (Readers can make things happen! C:)
• I wrote Mortal Enchantment before I wrote The Shadow Prince.
• A major character will die in the final book of the Mortal Enchantment series. (My theory: Authors are big meanies when they want to be =/)

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About The Author:

Stacey O'Neale lives in Annapolis, Maryland. When she's not writing, she spends her time fangirling over books, blogging, watching fantasy television shows, cheering for the Baltimore Ravens, and hanging out with her husband and daughter.

Her career in publishing started as a blogger-turned-publicist for two successful small publishers. Stacey writes young adult paranormal romance and adult science fiction romance. Her books always include swoon-worthy heroes, snarky heroines, and lots of kissing.

| Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | Website | Youtube |

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**Giveaway**

US only!!

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