Blog Tour: My Best Everything

We are so excited to join the ladies at Rockstar Book Tours and all the other awesome bloggers in the tour for upcoming release My Best Everything by Sarah Tomp.  Today we have a really fun interview and a giveaway for you guys!

Thanks so much to Sarah for taking the time to answer our questions.

Title: My Best Everything
Author: Sarah Tomp
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Release Date: March 3, 2015 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Hosted By: Rockstar Book Tours

You say it was all meant to be. You and me. The way we met. Our secrets in the woods. Even the way it all exploded. It was simply a matter of fate.

Maybe if you were here to tell me again, to explain it one more time, then maybe I wouldn’t feel so uncertain. But I’m going back to the beginning on my own. To see what happened and why.

Luisa “Lulu” Mendez has just finished her final year of high school in a small Virginia town, determined to move on and leave her job at the local junkyard behind. So when her father loses her college tuition money, Lulu needs a new ticket out.

Desperate for funds, she cooks up the (definitely illegal) plan to make and sell moonshine with her friends, Roni and Bucky. Quickly realizing they’re out of their depth, Lulu turns to Mason: a local boy who’s always seemed like a dead end. As Mason guides Lulu through the secret world of moonshine, it looks like her plan might actually work. But can she leave town before she loses everything – including her heart?

The summer walks the line between toxic and intoxicating. My Best Everything is Lulu’s letter to Mason – though is it an apology, a good-bye, or a love letter?

WHERE YOU CAN ORDER

INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR

Q: What was your inspiration for this story (the setting, the moonshine, etc)?
A: The setting of My Best Everything looks a little bit like the town in Virginia where I lived during my teen years. It’s a beautiful place and I did plenty of exploring when I lived there.  I rode inner tubes down the river, hiked and camped in the woods, and spent hours driving on all the many back roads.

As for the actual story, several ideas came together. It was always going to be a love story, and it was always going to be about drinking. The junkyard scenes were thanks to my son’s obsession with cars and taking things apart. I already had plenty of references to moonshine within the text, but it wasn’t until my kids watched Moonshiners on Discovery Channel and asked me if that’s what it was really like in Virginia that I started to wonder if my teen characters could pull that off.

I’ve decided that writing a novel is little bit like making moonshine. A bunch of ingredients are thrown into the pot and start fermenting. It gets kind of messy for a while, and things are thrown out, but eventually all of it works together to create the final product.

Q: Is there a particular message that you'd like your readers to walk away with or do you simply want them to sit back and enjoy a story?
A: When it comes to life, I have no answers, only questions! I think one of the most magical things about reading is that it’s a cooperative endeavor. The reader and the writer meet halfway, with each of them bringing something different to the experience. My greatest hope is that my readers finish my story and feel as though that was time well spent.

But… I also hope they ask more questions—about destiny, true love, crossing lines and breaking rules.

Q: Did you learn anything from writing this book?
A: I didn't know a lot about moonshine before writing My Best Everything. Pretty much everything beyond the tasting of it was all new to me. But the thing that truly surprised me was the importance and power of yeast to the process. I am now a bit of a yeast-geek!

Yeast is one of the deciding factors in a liquor’s taste and alcohol strength. Although these tiny microorganisms live all over the world, even on Antarctica, each strain has its own DNA and is regularly changing and evolving. Professional distillers have patents on their individual yeast strains and work hard to keep them from mutating significantly enough to change the taste.

Before moonshiners understood the science of the process, they sometimes had a fermenting stick that they used for each batch. They didn’t know why it worked, but they knew that stick made all the difference. The secret ingredient was the yeast that lived on it. The yeast would lie dormant all winter, and then come back to life when it was time to start making moonshine again in the spring.

Q: Besides writing, do you have any hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time?
A: I love free time! Unfortunately, I never seem to have enough of it!  I love being outdoors, which in San Diego is a year-round possibility. I love camping and taking long walks. I watch my kids play sports. I’m a big fan of the beach where I am very good at lying on a towel and daydreaming. I also love to play with messy art supplies.

Q: Which author(s) would you consider a mentor or role model?
A: In some ways, every author I’ve ever read a book by is my mentor. Reading is such a fundamental key to writing! However, more specifically, I was taught by some amazing and generous authors through Vermont College of Fine Arts where I earned my MFA. I worked closely with Ellen Howard, Kathi Appelt, Tim Wynne-Jones and Rita Williams-Garcia. After graduation, I was also lucky enough to work directly with Margaret Bechard during an amazing and intimate retreat. Her brilliant guidance and insights were crucial to shaping Lulu’s story.

Q: Any fun and exciting news you'd like to share with your readers?
A: I’m just so delighted to have been a guest on your blog! Thank you for having me!

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Photo by Roxyanne Young

Sarah Tomp has a MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.

My Best Everything, a novel for young adults, will be published March 2015 by Little, Brown Books. 

She is also the author of a picture book; Red, White, and Blue Good-bye (Walker Books for Young Readers).

Sarah teaches creative writing for University of California San Diego Extension. She reviews books for Bookbrowse.com and co-authors the blog, Writing on the Sidewalk.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY

10 Finished Copies of MY BEST EVERYTHING

US Only!

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Book Blits Book Tour: With Love by Shawnte Borris

 

SYNOPSIS:

 

Her life was all set…she had everything she had ever dreamed of. Promises of forever…. But promises can be broken. Alyson Almon, or Ally as she is called, finds this out in a tragic way. The emotional scars on her heart are ones only she can feel. With a change of location and a makeover she tries to start her life anew. She is drawn to a beautiful wedding and snaps some photos, capturing the love between the bride and her father. Luke McDerment, brother of the bride, is a man who is dealing with his own loss. Their paths cross when he spies her gorgeous photos and the instant attraction is something neither of them can deny.

 

Luke, with the help of his family who also find themselves drawn to this haunted young woman, involve her in a project that throws her right in the middle of this loving, warm family. They have a Gala coming up and Ally is the perfect photographer to capture the moments. Ally is embraced by the family and finds that she needs the love and warmth this family gives so effortlessly. She also finds the attraction to Luke is something she can’t deny.

 

Can they fight the electricity between them and just walk away or will they let fate hand them the happy ending they both desperately need.

 

Where to purchase:

AMAZON US | AMAZON CA | AMAZON UK | AMAZON UA | SMASHWORDS | B&N

 

 

EXCERPT:

 

The next morning sunlight peeked through the opened window. I slightly tossed back my hair away from my face, staring toward the early sunrise. I lay there for a while, closing my eyes and listening to the sound of the ocean waves crashing into the shore.

 

I decided to start the day with a hot shower. While waiting for the water to heat up, I turned on the radio, hoping that it would fill the sound of the empty room in the background, I could hear Brad Paisley singing “Wrapped Around”

 

It felt so good to have hot water flowing over my body. I stood in the shower in a daze. In no time at all, I remembered the first time Sam ever saw me naked.

 

We had been dating for two years, and it was cool, crisp night. We sat in the back oh his truck, watching the northern lights and listening to the radio. That was the first time in my life I felt safe.

 

I had never had anybody look at me like the way Sam did, his warm fingers softly touched the side of my face, staring into my eyes as if trying to gather my every thought.  His lips were silky soft with a slight smell of peppermint gum. His kisses were always light.  His fingers ran down my neck, slightly pulling my hair toward the center of my back.  With his trembling hands, he undid the clasp of my bra ever so lightly. Feeling cool air on my back gave me a slight shiver. Sam looked at me with his steady eyes, “Beautiful.” he whispered.

 

It was so powerful having our naked bodies touch with his fingers trailing over my naked breast.  I gasped to catch my breath, realizing that I was back in the shower. I grabbed the shower curtain for dear life. I NEEDED OUT!!!

 

Ally

 

 

 

Author Bio:

Shawnté lives in central Alberta, with her husband Ricky of 10 amazing years and together they have two beautiful children. Somehow her husband has managed to trick her into running a cow/calf operation. As much as she fusses about it, she loves it. 

When Shawnté is not sitting at her kitchen table hammering away on her laptop while watching the moose chase her cows across the yard, yes this really happens. Then she is busy attend school activities, community events and chauffeuring children here and there. She is big on playing softball and watching hockey.

 

When the time comes to relax, you will find her snuggled underneath her down comforter reading on her Ipad. Wait…who are we kidding, if the dishes, vacuuming, laundry or the bathrooms needs a hose down, you’ll always hear her say, “Just after this chapter.” She doesn’t have a favorite author or best story because everyday she falls in love with someone new. 

Shawnté is technology challenged so with the help of Lacy you can find her anywhere. Please go like her page and leave a review/star rating on the books she’s wrote.

Ways to stay connected with Shawnte Borris:

Facebook | Website | Email | Goodreads | Twitter

BOOK BLITZ HOSTED BY:

 

 

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Blog Tour & Giveaway: The Real Thing by Cassie Mae

Welcome to the official blog tour for THE REAL THING by Cassie Mae

THE REAL THING Written by Cassie Mae
Published by Flirt
August 19, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-553-39253-1

In this electrifying novel from Cassie Mae, two close friends surprise themselves by shifting from platonic love to sexual attraction.

Eric Matua has one friend—his best friend and childhood sweetheart, who needs a place to stay for the summer. Mia Johnson has thousands of friends—who live in her computer. Along with her email chats and Facebook notifications, Mia also devours romance novels, spending countless hours with fictional characters, dreaming of her own Romeo to sweep her off her feet. When she starts receiving supersweet messages from a stranger who thinks she’s someone else, Mia begins to believe that real love is possible outside her virtual world.

When the two friends become roommates, Mia finds herself falling harder than she ever thought she could. But Eric keeps his desires locked away, unsure of himself and his ability to give his best friend what she deserves in a boyfriend. As her advances are continually spurned, Mia splits her time between Eric and her computer. But she soon realizes she’s about to lose the only real thing she’s ever had. 

Get your copy of THE REAL THING

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  iBooks  |  Google Play  |  Kobo  |  Other retailers

SNEAK PEEK

THE REAL THING EXCERPT 

(from Chapter Two)

It’s been three hours since I’ve turned our sauna into an icebox. I keep waiting for Em to crawl out of her room to congratulate me on my newly formed handyman skills, or follow through on that threat she made, but it’s been pretty quiet. She closed the door and I don’t know if she’s taking a nap or what, but that little ego boost she gave me earlier has sort of faded into oblivion. Maybe she wasn’t as thrilled to spend time with me as I was with her. Or maybe she thinks I’m boring. Maybe it’s still weird, and we’re adjusting to seeing each other after so long.
     Or maybe I’m just being a damn pussy.
     I hoist myself off the couch, tossing the remote behind me. The sweat from earlier left my clothes damp, and now that it’s about twenty degrees cooler, it causes a chill to run up my spine. I check over my shoulder before lifting my arm up to sniff my pit. Shit, no wonder . . . she could probably smell my hard work the second I came back inside.
     Grabbing the bottom of my cold, sweat-riddled shirt, I pull it off on my way to the bathroom. Hopefully she’ll hear the shower and know I’m doing something about the stink, and that it’ll be safe to venture out as soon as I get my sweaty ass washed.
     Her door opens with a bang, and I bolt into the bathroom so she doesn’t see me. I know it’s stupid, but give me ten pounds more muscle and twenty pounds less fat, and maybe I’ll be okay with her catching me without a shirt on.
     “Hey Eric!” she calls from her room.
     “Uh, yeah?”
     “Could you come here for a second?”
     My hands fumble over my counter for cologne, deodorant . . . something, just let me find something. “Give me a minute . . .” I dive for the counter under the sink and praise the heavens when I spot the air freshener. I know I told her I’d be living like I normally do, but as I spray the air freshener out in front of me and walk through it, then do it three more times, I’m pretty sure I lied. After a few sprays on my shirt, I tug it back on, rolling it down my torso.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cassie Mae is a full-time writer and mother from Utah. She loves being glued to the computer, thinking up new stories, and writing the day away while the kids run wild at her feet. When she finished her first novel, she started a blog that now gets more than five thousand hits a month. Her group blog is also dedicated to reaching out to aspiring authors by providing critiques and other marketing tools to help them succeed in the industry. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with the youth in her community as a volleyball and basketball coach, or searching the house desperately for chocolate.

Connect with Cassie

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  | Pinterest 

Connect with Flirt

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

GIVEAWAY

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Blog Tour: The Field

 

Welcome to the Official Blog Tour for THE FIELD by Tracy Richardson!

Eric Horton has been having disturbing nightmares of explosions and fire and someone screaming. The dreams keep him up at night, but during the day, as a goalkeeper on his high school’s varsity soccer team, he has been unbeatable, saving shot after shot with what feels like a supernatural awareness of where the ball is headed. He also shares an uncommonly strong connection with Renee, the attractive new French exchange student. The wild visions and synchronicities pale in comparison to the strange experiments Renee’s father is carrying out in the physics lab at the university, however. He has asked Eric to take part in the tests, which makes Eric question whether what he is seeing and hearing is reality or something far beyond it. When his friend Will develops a drinking problem and Renee starts flirting with other guys, Eric loses his confidence on the soccer field and in himself. If he is going to pull it all together, he will have to tap into a part of himself that he never knew existed.

WHERE YOU CAN BUY

INDIEBOUND | POWELL'S | AMAZON | GOODREADS | B&N

Praise For THE FIELD

• "Readers will appreciate the fast-paced, compelling drama. A good choice for people who hope there’s more to space than space". ~ Kirkus Reviews 

• The Field is a compellingly honest slice of life with fully dimensional characters whose struggles and triumphs matter and touch you deeply. Richardson is a worthy heir to Madeleine L'Engle, whose 1962 fantasy fiction novel, A Wrinkle in Time, introduced serious scientific concepts in a book for young adults, and to boot placed a girl in the center of the story. While L'Engle unfolds concepts of space and time and thrusts her characters into an unknown fifth-dimension, Richardson's characters physically stay put yet intellectually travel beyond ordinary consciousness to delve into concepts of dark energy, collective [un]consciousness and universal energy fields. ~ 4 Stars ~ Rita Kohn, NUVO 

• Newsweekly A combination of the real world of soccer and the mystical world of the Universal Energy Field. This is a very imaginative novel. ~ Bookviews by Alan Caruba

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tracy Richardson is the author of THE FIELD (Moonbeam Award winner) and INDIAN SUMMER. Her realistic fiction also delves into science fiction, just to keep things interesting. When she has free time, you will likely find her painting furniture, knitting scarves, gardening or whipping up gourmet meals for her vegetarian, no-carb, omnivore family. Ernie, her Jack Russell Terrier, will eat anything.

Luminis Books page | Tracy's Blog | Facebook

GIVEAWAY

• 1 winner will get a signed copy of THE FIELD 
• 1 Winner will get a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card

Must be 13 + To Enter.
Physical Items ship in US only.
Gift Card open Internationally.

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Blog Tour: Gilded Hearts

Title: Gilded Hearts (The Shadow Guild #1)
Author: Christine D'Abo
Publication: January 7, 2014
Genre:  Historical Steampunk Romance

Samuel Hawkins, Sergeant in the King's Sentry, has been called in to investigate a murder case. As he awaits the Archivists to arrive—the team who will use a special device to extract the memories of the dead man to help find clues to his murder—he never expects to come face to face with the woman he'd left behind when he'd fled the Archives five years earlier.

Piper Smith has grown from the girl Samuel remembered into a strong woman and full-fledged archivist. Shadowed by her mentor, Master Ryerson, Piper will be performing her first extraction. When she sees Samuel, she must push aside her childhood crush, else risk her standing within the Guild.

As the two begin working together to find the killer, Samuel and Piper explore their intense attraction to each other. But "Jack the Ripper" proves to be harder to catch than the two originally thought. What's worse, they discover he may very well work for the Archives. Now, Samuel and Piper must battle internal and external threats as they try to foil a plot against the Crown and stop Jack the Ripper from taking his next victim.

EXCERPT

Knowing there was no chance of escaping her fate, Piper stood and followed Jones out the door like the dutiful apprentice she had been until so recently.

Piper let her mind wander to Samuel. After some time to get used to the idea of seeing him again, she wasn’t surprised he’d been assigned to investigate the murder. He’d flown through the ranks from Bow Street runner to constable to sergeant in a matter of a few years. Samuel, with his brilliant mind and easy manner, his ability to know what a person was feeling. It had been like a gift, a sign, to see him at that moment. Without question she knew he would help her.

Samuel and his duty. Samuel, who’d already been at the Archives for years when she had arrived. Who’d been there since his infancy. The same Samuel who’d wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his side that first night when she’d cried for her mother. She was stronger now, and yet knowing he would come to help buoyed her resolve.

They could do this. They would discover who the killer was and—

Staggering, she caught herself against the wall as a wave of pain and lust slammed into her. Laughter echoed through her head as her body responded, nipples hardening and desire flaring through her core.

“Piper?” Jones was by her side. He put his hand out, offering support, but didn’t touch.

“Effects from the extraction. I’ll be fine.” Please, let her be fine. Taking Jones by the arm, she took a deep breath. “Let’s get this over with.” They crossed the threshold to the infirmary.

Blog Tour: Big Numbers

 

Welcome to the Official Blog Tour for BIG NUMBERS by Jack Getze!

Laugh at divorced dad Austin Carr, a funny, oversexed scamp who'll do anything to get his kids back. Think Bugs Bunny with guns and a penis.

Divorced dad Austin Carr wakes up every day in a beat-up camper, parked on someone else’s private property. Why? Because his alimony and child support payments were established by New Jersey’s family court system when his income was double, and for the last two years he has failed to earn the legally mandated monthly nut. He’s had his savings drained, his Maxima repossessed, his salary attached, and his visiting rights suspended. He bought the twelve-year-old Chevy pick-up with the rusty camper for $800 last month because another landlord tossed his butt in the street. Will stretching the rules, his own morals, and the boundaries of common sense raise the cash needed to get his kids back? Or will his big mouth and bad behavior set him up for a nasty double-cross? See if Austin can redeem himself and win back his children.

WHERE YOU CAN BUY

PRAISE FOR

• “Darkly comic, with an engaging protagonist.” -- T.J. MacGregor, Edgar Winner, Author of The Tango Key Mysteries 
• “Big Numbers is a gritty, sexy, violent, and funny book.” -- Liz Clifford at Reviewed by Liz
• “Wonderful characters…well-written, entertaining…a good read.” --Connie Anderson for Armchair Interviews 
• “Indiana Jones has his whip and Luke Skywalker has his light saber, but for Austin Carr, his full-boat grin is the weapon of choice.” --Melissa for Lou Reads 
• “Jack Getze started his career as a newspaper reporter. As a result, BIG NUMBERS is lean and mean, with not a word wasted. A truly fun, genuinely funny read.” --Lisa Guidarini for Bluestalking Reader

About The Author

Former Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Getze is Fiction Editor for Anthony-nominated Spinetingler Magazine, one of the internet's oldest websites for noir, crime, and horror short stories. His screwball mysteries, BIG NUMBERS and BIG MONEY, are being reissued in 2013 by Down and Out Books, with the new BIG MOJO set for 2014. His short stories have appeared in Passages, A Twist of Noir, and Beat to a Pulp. Getze is an Active Member of Mystery Writers of America’s New York Chapter.

WEBSITE | GOODREADS

Giveaway  

Must be 13+ To Enter | Open Intentionally

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THIS OR THAT

Sweet or sour?	Sweet
Warm or Cold Weather?	Warm
Pop or country?	Pop
Hardcover or Paperback?	Hardcover
Coffee or Tea?	Coffee
Halloween or Thanksgiving?	Thanksgiving
Stories that are light and fun or dark and serious?	Fun & light
Chocolate or Vanilla?	Chocolate
Used books or new books?	New Books
TV or movies?	Movies
Drive or Fly?	Fly
Action or Drama?	Action
At Home or Out And About?	Home
Night Owl or Early Bird?	Early Bird
New York or Los Angeles?	Los Angeles  (lo-SANG-lays)

Review & Giveaway: Eramane

Title: Eramane (Eramane Trilogy, #1)
Author: Frankie Ash
Publication: Archway Publishing, 2013
Reviewed by: Stephanie
Rating: 3 stars
Reason for Reviewing: Ebook provided in exchange for an honest review

In the village of Eludwid, seventeen-year-old Eramane Fahnestock goes about her life, cheerfully disregarding a prophecy made to her parents that she would have a great gift. Not yet wed and beset with boredom, Eramane cannot shake the feeling that something exciting awaits her beyond Eludwid. But when she is invited to picnic with a handsome young suitor, Eramane has no idea that her life will soon change forever.

As Eramane prepares for her date, she is suddenly hypnotized by a strange voice that tells her he will be coming for her that night. Unsettled but determined to press forward, Eramane and her suitor, Lebis, head to the woods to enjoy their picnic. As darkness falls on the forest, however, a beast emerges, transforming their beautiful outing into a terrifying scene. Taken captive and carried away to a mountain hideaway, Eramane finds her memories are soon clouded, even as her family frantically searches for her back home.

In this gripping fantasy tale, evil is summoned to the mountaintop, forcing a young woman to discover her magical gifts and exact revenge against a beast determined to destroy everything she has ever loved.

Seventeen year old Eramane is beautiful, strong and an extremely caring soul. You would think suitors would be lined around the corner bakery in Eludwid, but her family has been very picky with who marries their beloved, Eramane. Her mother wants the man she marries to be the man she loves. On this special day, without Eramane’s consent, her parents and brother Samiah set her up with a long time crush Lebis the blacksmith. Just like parents to totally embarrass a teenager. Haha. On the “date” Lebis is handsome and such a charming gentleman to Eramane that she feels like he could be the one for her. Too bad Eramane can’t fully enjoy her date because this voice in her head keeps saying “I will come for you soon”. In what seemed like a moment, she is separated from Lebis and in front of her stands a huge horned-winged beast with glowing eyes reaching outward.

I must warn you that this story is action packed from beginning to end! I read the first few pages and was shocked by the in-your-face events that occur. I had to stop and check the page number to make sure my kindle didn’t jump to the middle of the book. I know what you are thinking though, and no, this wasn’t one of those stories that show you all their action in the beginning and the rest of the book is a yawn fest. I was at the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next throughout the whole story. Now with saying all that, I did wish I could of known a little bit more about the characters and their abilities or gifts like the story explains. I felt at some parts I needed a little more information to fully grasp what was happening. Since their are two more books in this series, I hope this is explained a bit more.

Eramane is just a beautiful character and I most certainly got attached to her story. She also has so much mystery about her that I want to know more about. The struggles she faces are far too much for just any regular seventeen year old to handle, but she has this fierce strength about her that jumps from the pages. I really look forward to seeing how her character develops in the second and third book. Another character I enjoyed was Samiah. He is Ermane’s extremely protective older brother who would do anything for his family, Lord, and village. I loved his courage and felt his sadness when parts of the story got too intense for him. The author did a great job of mixing in different characters within the story while allowing their side to be told and balancing the whole experience as one.

This is a great YA High Fantasy read that will keep you shocked after each unfolding event within the story. Yes, you will keep trying to guess what the heck is going on, but the further you read the more information you gather and understand. I was a page turnin’ maniac while reading this book, lol. Basically, if you love a different type of YA Fantasy with some shocking situations and a lot of action, then stop reading my review and go and purchase your copy right now. On that note, thank you Frankie Ash for allowing us to accompany you on your Eramane Trilogy journey. *Cheers*

GIVEAWAY

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Blog Tour: Soul Resurrected by Keri Lake

Title: SOUL RESURRECTED (Sons of Wrath, #2)
Author: Keri Lake
Published: October 31, 2013
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance/Dark Urban Fantasy
ISBN: 978-0-9848517-5-1

As Wrath’s fiercest son, Logan carries the scars of fifty years spent in the most dreaded prison of the underworld, for a sin he’d kill to keep secret. Enduring decades of gruesome torture has left Logan feared by and detached from others, until a female Alexi’s blood resurrects his soul from death and, with it, the pleasures he’s been denied for so long.

Plagued by shame of her own, Calla is drawn to the ruthle|ss demon, Logan, whose insatiable craving for her touch rouses buried passions and, for once, leaves her feeling desired.

Adark and dangerous evil has been reawakened, however, and when Calla is drawn too close to its breeding grounds, Logan vows to summon the violence of Wrath in order to keep her safe. First, though, Calla must save him from a past riddled with deceit and corruption … but only if she can accept the chilling consequences of unearthing his vilest skeleton.

In this story, we follow Logan and Calla as they battle new and dangerous villains as well as their attractions to each other.

Logan is, seemingly, the most damaged of all the brothers.  The lack of love and abuse he received as a child have turned him into an absolute wild card.  Angry, blood thirsty, and unpredictable, he is the one to fear.  In Soul Avenged, something happened to Logan that left him bonded to Calla.   A former Alexi like Ayden, Calla soon realizes that she was nothing more than a pawn in a series of sick games.  Soul Resurrected picks up right where book one left off, at the moment that their "bond" was created. Ayden, Kane, and the Sons of Wrath have nearly eliminated any threats posed by the Alexi.  What they don't realize is that there is a new, big, bad shit-storm brewing and this one is going to involve all the brothers as well as Calla. 

I'm going to go about writing this review a little differently than I normally would because there is so much to this book, this series.

The Characters

Both walking contradictions, Logan and Calla were fascinating!  Logan, on the outside was cold and brutal, but had a soft, sweet, gooey center.  (Okay, that sounds a bit gross but you get were I'm going.)  He built a wall around himself and yet Calla was able to break down that wall to get to the heart of his pain and see him for who he really is, which was something not even his brothers managed to do. Calla was quite the reverse.  Blonde and blue-eyed, she looked more like a doll than a fighter.  Logan often teased her for being such a girl and yet Calla was so much tougher and stronger than anyone realized.  Just because she didn't like getting her hands dirty didn't mean she wouldn't.

Beyond these two, there are so many other characters that are important to the story.  All the brothers, including Ferno and Maddox (Mad Dog) who were introduced in this book play critical roles in the overall plot.  Each one is captivating in their own right and I can't wait to get to know each of them better.  In addition, we are also introduced to a pack of good lycans, vampire-like creatures, and even bad angels. You never quite know who to trust.

World-Building and Plot

I was already impressed with Keri's world-building in book one, but she went above and beyond in this book.  We were previously acquainted with the seedier side of Detroit, but now she added new layers by allowing her readers to visit the darkest corners and realms where demons hail and The Fallen rule.  You are equally drawn and repulsed by these places and the monsters that dwell there.

As for the plot, I don't want to reveal too much and spoil anything but trust me when I say "it ain't pretty".  There's more than one villain, each with a different agenda, so you're not sure who to fear most but fear them all you must.  Each brother has to face his own problems, but Keri did an amazing job of setting up our next installment and giving us hints about who the next players will be.

The Writing

The writing was interesting, dynamic, compelling, and virtually flawless.  With tons of lust, action,  and multiple POVs, we take this journey right along side with Logan and Calla, let Gavin steer for a bit, and even let a good-guy-turned-douche take a turn behind the wheel.  With a story as complex as this one is, it almost needs to be told from so many perspectives so that you can really appreciate all the angles.

Overall 

What I am really loving about these books is that Keri Lake has managed to successfully combine Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance.  We get the dark, gritty, fast-paced action and intricate plot of UF and combined it with a heart-wrenching, yet smoldering romance.  HOTNESS!!

The first half of the book was a little slower on the uptake because we really focus more on Logan and Calla.  However, by the second half, Keri guns it and I found myself completely engrossed (and basically glued to my ereader).

With a strong finish that will leave you breathless, Soul Resurrected was an incredible follow up to Soul Avenged (book 1 in Sons of Wrath) and I am now even more excited for book 3 (particularly because it will focus on my favorite brother, Gavin).

And just in case my stellar and gushing review didn't sway you, here is a gif that Keri Lake is using as inspiration for Gavin in book 3.  Uh yeah, you're welcome ;) *le sigh*

And now for a little fun!

Throughout the tour, participating blogs will be posting a question for readers to hunt down on Keri Lake’s website. Questions can be found throughout the site: book pages, snippets, blog posts and glossary. Most questions will be related to the Sons of Wrath series. A few bloggers will have added bonus questions taken directly from Soul Avenged. You can visit Keri Lake’s Scavenger Hunt page by clicking on the button above. Record your answers on the Answer Sheet. At the end of the tour, you’ll be able to submit your responses via Google Doc right on the Scavenger Hunt page. The individual with the MOST correct responses will win a MYSTERY PRIZE, valued at $125. 

Here are your questions:

Which Wrath brother has visions of future events? 

BONUS: What kind of supe is Sabelle in Soul Avenged?

LASTLY...THE GIVEAWAY!

1st Prize:
1-$30 Amazon Gift card
1-Signed Paperback Soul Resurrected (Sons of Wrath, #2)
1-Limited Edition Print signed by Julian Christian & Keri Lake
1-Property of Logan T-Shirt
1-Soul Resurrected Tote Bag
1-Soul Resurrected Notebook & Pen set
1-Sons of Wrath Wine Glass Charm set
1-Soul Resurrected Book Mark
1-Soul Resurrected Coffee Mug

2nd Prize:
1-$20 Amazon Gift Card
1-Signed Paperback Soul Resurrected (Sons of Wrath, #2)
1-Soul Resurrected Tote
1-Soul Resurrected Notebook & Pen set
1-Soul Resurrected Purse Clip
1-Sons of Wrath Wine Glass Charm set

For those participating in the Scavenger Hunt:
1-MYSTERY PRIZE (valued at $125)

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Blog Tour: Beautifully Awake

Title: Beautifully Awake
Author: Riley Mackenzie
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 2, 2013
Hosted By: Love Between the Sheets
Reviewed by: Taryn
Reason for Reading: Ebook provided in exchange for an honest review.

Lili Porter hates the rain. Bad things happen in the rain. As a small town social worker dedicated to protecting children, she is forced to start over to escape her rural disaster. Determined to follow her father’s advice—head up and chin high—Lili finds herself in a new city, taking on a new system, this time healthcare. In doing so, she gets something she never expected, an intimate behind-the-scenes look at life in the hospital.

Lili learns that a surgeon’s hands have the power to heal more than physical wounds. And a prescription for truth can cure three years of sleep running and leave you beautifully awake.

 WHERE TO BUY 

Amazon UK | Kobo | iBooks

Lili is a social worker who left her small town to take a job as a case manager in Pediatric Surgery at Philadelphia Hospital. Due to budget issues, resources had to be reallocated and case managers started to rotate on different surgery services. At the beginning of the story, Lili had just started a new rotation in Neurosurgery. Her first encounter with the sexy, chiseled Dr. Chase Colton, Chief of Neurosurgery, left her awestruck. Their mutual attraction was instant and magnetic. She was then invited into the OR for surgeries in which the patient was woken up mid-procedure. Very quickly, Lili and Chase’s relationship moved from professional to personal as they were unable to ignore their intense connection. Over time, they had to help one another come to terms with their traumatic pasts in order to move on and find true happiness together.

When I first read Beautifully Awake’s description, I knew it would appeal to me since I’m such a big fan of medical dramas on TV. As promised, there was a glimpse into the daily workings of a hospital and its staff. We got to know Guy--the 3rd year resident with a bit of a crush on Lili, Sam--the intern, Jackson--the physician assistant, Leanne--the nurse, and Kate from the recovery room. And we also got to see what happens in the on-call room, if you know what I’m saying. ;) I’m not sure how realistic all of these medical details and scenarios were, but it was fun to read anyway.

I had mixed feelings about Chase as a love interest. He was attractive, mysterious, and an unselfish lover. He treated Lili well, wining and dining her in New York City and spoiling her with designer shopping sprees. But at the same time he was extremely possessive, which was a big turn off for me, and some of his lines were too cheesy for my taste.

Lili and Chase’s chemistry was off the charts. This story was more explicit than the romances I usually read, so be prepared for some seriously steamy scenes. But it wasn’t all lust and passion--Lili and Chase connected on a much deeper level, too. Once they finally opened up about their pasts, they helped each other start to trust again and let go of guilt.

Some of my favorite secondary characters were the best friends. Sierra, Lili’s pregnant BFF, wasn’t afraid to tell her the truth and was always there to support her and listen to her problems. Sierra also provided a lot of comic relief with her pregnancy stories. Asher was also a great friend to Chase, and toward the end of the story, Lili found herself wondering why Asher was still single. I was thinking the same thing while reading. It turns out that the next book in the series will tell Asher’s story!

I recommend Beautifully Awake to anyone looking for a sexy and entertaining read about two broken people who help one another heal their emotional wounds.

GIVEAWAY

Prizes:
(5) Signed Paperbacks of Beautifully Awake (US Only)
(5) $5 Starbuck's Gift Cards
(1) Grand Prize: Kindle Paperwhite 

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