Monday, December 31, 2012

Review: Blessed By a Demon's Mark by E.S. Moore

Blessed By A Demon's Mark
Author:E.S. Moore
Release Date: December 31, 2012
Publisher: Kensington
Kat Redding Book #3
ISBN:   0758268742
ISBN13: 9780758268747
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Netgalley

In a job like this, there’s no retirement plan

Kat Redding’s life is dangerous enough when she’s hunting the rogue vampires who prey on Pureblood humans. But now that Kat is thinking of getting out of the killing business, she’s faced with a slew of new problems. Like the demon Beligral, who offers help at an escalating cost, and the werewolf cult with whom she’s entwined professionally and personally. And then there’s Countess Baset—the terrifying vampire who wants Kat to become her personal assassin.

It’s no wonder that Kat has been seeking refuge in the mysterious town known as Delai, a place where she can shed her Lady Death persona and live a life that’s as close to normal as she’s ever known. But even in this haven, something feels askew. Delai is a little too serene. And the more she discovers, the more Kat realizes that the only choice left to her is not whether to do battle, but which side she’ll risk her life to defend…

E.S. Moore's Kat Redding series is on the darker side of Urban Fantasy. His characters live in a time where humans are at the bottom of the food chain and even though Kat is a vampire she does what she can to keep them safe. Delai has become a refuge for Kat but when she leaves to take care of her demon mark she starts questioning why she was there and what Delai is really all about. On top of her personal struggles Countess Baset, a vampire that might just be Kat's doom is after her and is willing to go to extremes to get to her.

In Book 3 Kat struggles with not only who she is but what she wants out of life more then any other book in the series so far. I hate to say it but the way that Kat acted and treated everyone in BLESSED BY A DEMON'S MARK really annoyed me and made me dislike the book a bit more then I normally would. It was a struggle not to stop reading at some points because of the annoyance with her and the situations she got herself in because of her hard headed, closed off personality. On another note book 3 made me like a few of the supporting characters a little more and got me excited to see what more they might bring to the series in the future. The demon Beligral of course is a crazy ass creature but he defiantly brings some suspense to an already action packed, danger filled series. It's always hard to know what his newest mark or demands might bring and you cant help but want to yell at Kat for agreeing with him even though Ethan is on the sidelines begging her not to. I have always enjoyed the world that Moore has created and I like that we learn a little more about it with every book he ads to the series.

I would not read the series without starting from the beginning as it will help you get to know the characters better and learn a bit more about he world and its struggles but I do not think it would be disastrous if you decided to read book 3 as a stand alone. Kat has some major issues to work out and although Book 3 made me really question if I liked her enough to keep reading I will most likely pick up book 4.

 I gave it 3/5 stars

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Week in Review: 12/23-12/29


Books Ive Bought/received

* Prodigy by Marie Lu- Arc- Publisher


Books I Read

I started Blood Winter by Diana Pharaoh Francis but have not finished it yet :)

Reviews Posted

Wilde's Meadow by Krystal Wade

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* New Releases for the week. Was there anything you were looking forward to reading?

* Monday Christie Palmer Author of Shadow Play was on UFI for a guest post and giveaway.

* I was traveling for the holiday's so did not have any posts up Wed-Fri. Thanks for sticking with me and I hope all who celebrate had a wonderful Christmas.

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 * I love comments so if you see something you like (or not) please comment away and let me know.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Review: Wilde's Meadow by Krystal Wade

Wilde's Meadow
Author:Krystal Wade
Release Date: November 5, 2012
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Darkness Falls Book #3
ISBN:  1620071096
ISBN13: 9781620071090
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review Copy Source: Kismet Tours

Happy endings are hard to find, and even though Katriona is in the middle of a war with someone who’s already stolen more than she can replace, she aches for a positive future with her DraĆ­ochtans.

Armed with hope, confidence in her abilities, and a strange new gift from her mother, Kate ventures into the Darkness to defeat a fallen god.

Losses add up, and new obstacles rise to stand in the way. Is the one determined to bring Encardia light strong enough to keep fighting, or will all the sacrifices to stop those who seek domination be for nothing?

The Darkness Falls series was fast paced, filled with interesting characters and was rounded off with a great imaginative storyline.  The world building from book 1 was attention grabbing and I loved learning everything about Encardia. Katriona started out as any girl next door, knew nothing of her true self or where she came from and grew into a great heroine that was destined to save a world. She went through many ups and downs, lost many and gained some as well. 

WILDE'S MEADOW rounded off the series with action, suspense, and tears of loss and joy. Just about everyone from book 1 and book 2 had a role to play in WILDE'S MEADOW and a lot lost their lives in support of Katriona's destiny. When I say a lot of people were lost I'm not exaggerating and they were not all small role characters. I had no clue what would really happen until it happened and there were many times were I was 100 percent positive the outcome would be different than how it really turned out.

I'm happy with how things turned out for Kate and Arland and the ending of the book left me satisfied with the end of the series. I think everyone who survived found a great niche to live happily ever after in.

I gave it 4/5 stars

Friday, December 28, 2012

Winner: Diane Thorne Giveaway

Thank you to everyone who entered!!
Prize: Any Book fron The Sexy & Damned Series
The Winner chosen by Rafflecopter is.....
Congrats!! I have emailed winner who has 48 hours to respond with mailing address or I will pick another.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Merry Christmas


To all those who celebrate, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas.
Most every Christmas we travel from North Carolina, home to Chicago to visit family so that is where we are now. What are you doing this Christmas? 

Since we are out of town, I will most likely be taking a few days off of blogging to spend with Family. I will be back for sure on Sunday if I don't have a chance sooner. Enjoy your holiday

New Releases: 12/23-12/29







Happy Reading!!

Monday, December 24, 2012

Guest Blog & Giveaway: Shadow Play by Christie Palmer

UFI welcomes Christie Palmer Author of Shadow Play. Thanks for Joining us!!



Building a New World



I love being the author of Urban Fantasy/Paranormal I am blessed with the creativity and ability to create worlds and characters that have never been seen before or ever been imagined. It’s amazing, and wonderful and fits into my world of make-believe. Yes, I just used a Mr. Rogers analogy. Remember anything is possible in the land of make-believe. This is where I began creating my worlds, within the fantasies of a child’s mind.
For my debut novel Shadow Play, the setting might be in Montana. But it is worlds apart from the small town that the mortal eye would see, it is what lies beyond the realm of the mortal eye that makes any fantasy/paranormal believable. Those things that go bump in the night? The unexplained is what a writer thrives on. Imagine yourself on a dark corner the only light the street lamp shining over you, creating a halo of light and safety around you. That darkness the light is pushing back? The unknown? That is where a writer lives, where the unbelievable and imaginative mind lives. That is where I create my worlds.
Creating a new world and realm can be as easy or as difficult as you want it to be. You can create a world that has similarities to our world. Or create something from scratch with your own language your own creatures or world unto its self.
I love to create worlds that are within our own realm of existence. For example, taking mythology and bending it to my own will. By bending our own reality you have the basis of a world and you can fill in the blanks.
I have taken Druids, and made them a current day people. I have added Elements to the Druid history. But in my world I have six elements, Earth, Air, Water, Fire, Darkness, and Light.
In my world Atlantis was a true place, housing all the great Gods and mysterious of the world. There are hundreds if not thousands of blanks you can fill in when you just put those two ideas in front of me.
Basically all it takes is a basis in reality and an imagination that will fill in the blanks. So in a nutshell, for me, building new worlds is like a crazy Mad Libs game. And who didn’t love those.
So turn out the lights and stare into the darkness and build a world and create a history and mythology. Then write 
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Christie was born and raised in a suburb of Salt Lake City, Ut. She lives less than a mile from the home she grew up in. World traveler she is not. But what she lacked in travel she more than made up for in her imagination. Within her vivid imagination she has traveled the world over as well as different worlds and different times.

She works a full time day job to pay the bills but loses herself in books and her writing whenever possible.

She is a loving mother of two wonderful children that she admits she is obsessed with. She has been married for 18 years to a very tolerant man that is grounded in reality in order for her to fly to the heights of her own imagination.

She started writing when she was a teenager after reading a book that she didn't like the ending too. Took a hiatus to raise her wonderful children but has dedicated herself to becoming a published writer for the last several years.
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Find Christie and her books
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Shadow Play
Tracker #1
 A small town in the mountains of Marshall, Montana is being plagued by an unknown entity. It’s mutilating and killing the women of the town. At his wits end the Sheriff of Marshall has nowhere to turn but to a friend. A friend, with the abilities to track and kill any prey.
Ryder doesn’t normally do mortal issues. However, he can’t turn his back on a friend. Besides he is the best at what he does. After all he is a Tracker, an ancient race with unparalleled abilities to track down any prey. With one of the three essential elements: Taste, Touch or Smell. Heartless and cold, Ryder knows what needs to be done and performs his duty without feeling.
Kyra, an Air Element and the only female Elemental Enforcer, is sent on a fact finding mission to Marshall, by the Druid Council. She needs to find out exactly what is happening in Montana before the Tribunal goes in and kills everyone.
The last thing she expects to find is a Tracker, and is even more surprised to find out that he is on her side. But can they get past their initial feelings upon meeting and the sexual tension? Or will the evil that is living in the mountain kill them both.
Ryder and Kyra must learn to work together to destroy the shadow and save Kyra from a fate worse than death. When pure evil is involved is love enough?
 
 
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Sunday, December 23, 2012

Week in Review: 12/16-12/22


Books Ive Bought/received

*Blood Winter by Diana Pharaoh Francis


Books I Read

Deadly Sting by Jennifer Estep
Black City by Christina Henry

Reviews Posted

Leashing the Tempest by Jenn Bennett
Blood and Mistletoe by E.J. Stevens

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* New Releases for the week. Was there anything you were looking forward to reading?

* Monday, Jessica McQuay was here as part of her Black Moon Blog tour with a Guest blog and giveaway.

*  A Guest blog and Giveaway for The Sexy & Damned series by Diane Thorne went up on Thursday.

*  Friday I put up a giveaway for an ARC copy of Shattered Circle by Linda Robertson. Its one of my must buy series so I hope you all will have a chance to start the series and enjoy it.

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 * I love comments so if you see something you like (or not) please comment away and let me know.

Friday, December 21, 2012

ARC Giveaway: Shattered Circle by Linda Robertson

Shattered Circle by Linda Robertson
Persophone Alcmedi #6
January 29, 2013; Pocket Books

After her werewolf boyfriend, Johnny, tried to kill her, Persephone Alcmedi finds herself in the comforting arms of powerful vampire Menessos. She’s trying to sort out her feelings for the two men, but not even Seph is above the confusion of tangled emotions. All Johnny wants to do is mend their relationship and reveal the life-altering news he’s recently received, but his new responsibilities as the werewolf king take up most of his time.

Does this mean Menessos can finally make his move?

Meanwhile, unknown to Seph, her beloved foster daughter, Beverley, has been playing with a magical artifact and making dubious friends on the other side. When Beverley disappears, Seph must seek help from a supernatural being so potent that even Menessos fears him...and such aid always comes with a very steep price.



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Thursday, December 20, 2012

Guest Post & Giveaway: The Sexy & Damned by Diane Thorne

UFI welcomes Diane Thorne Author of The Sexy & Damned series. Thanks for Joining us!!



A holy and unholy cast in the Sexy & Damned series



The Urban Fantasy cast:

Celee: The Stripper

Paran: A voodoo man whose soul can jump into other bodies

Greger: The vampire warrior trying to save his soul

Jay: A wannabe rock star who's a regular human

Murdock: A demon who acquires souls

Jon Hadley: A priest

Sariel: An angel





The creation of characters in my Sexy & Damned series started with the main one, the Stripper. Celee is a young woman who has had an extremely difficult life. Her parents died during her teen years. The State forced her and her siblings into separate foster homes. She ran away and planned to work to get custody of her brother and sister. Well, she soon found the only way to survive was by stripping, and supernatural creatures paid better than humans did. Sadly, those high paying customers such as vampires used and abused her. She'd spent enough time in the hospital drained to the point of death that her heart turned cold. She wanted to fight back.



Murdock, a demon, offered her a deal. He proposed a way for her to fight vampires, a chance to live forever and gain their abilities to beat them. The price? Her soul and she brings people to him when he asks. That's right, all she has to do is fetch people, deliver them to Murdock, then walk away. What happens between the person and Murdock is not her concern. She take's his deal and becomes sexy and damned.



But Celee didn't exactly get what she wanted when she bargained with Murdock. Sure, she got vampire strength and immortality, but her survival doesn't depend on human blood. (Not telling you what she needs so you can read and find out.) Also unlike regular vampires, she has a beating heart. That's write. She's not entirely dead.



Paran, the Godfather of clubs in the Midwest, is her boss. He's a twisted character to watch out for. He's survived over the centuries by switching bodies and he has close connections with Murdock. Don't trust him.



Jay is a human singer who longs for fame. Celee met him a few years back and had to deliver him to Murdock. The demon offered Jay what he wants, and the wannabe rock star accepted. Damn demon didn't say WHEN he would deliver to Jay, so the wannabe rock star works and works, trying to achieve his goal.



Jay doesn't blame Celee for bringing him to Murdock. She didn't force him to do anything. He loves her and wants her, but she resists. Jay tries to win over Celee. His efforts pan out better in book 2, The Complicated Stripper.



Greger, the vampire, seeks to build a case to save his soul. He needs help on a job and finds Celee, so he follows her. He proposes a deal with her, and she can hardly refuse. He has something important she needs to survive. (hint, hint)



Meeting Greger turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Celee. At the end of book 1, she discovers her soul may have a chance of avoiding Hell. Enter Sariel, a handsome angel who is like a lawyer.



We arrive at book 2 and Celee has another job, one with plenty of complications! Hence, the name: The Complicated Stripper. Pieces are coming together for her in book 2. Another character is added to the series, one who will challenge Celee in the future, without any doubt.



Celee will have to make some difficult decisions soon. I have 2 more books planned right now. I may continue the series, but will have to wait and see what my holy and unholy characters have in store. I start with a basic plot and everything else falls into place. You can be sure there will be romance, heartbreak, and surprises.



Thank you for reading my post. (A special thank you for having me as a guest.)



EXCERPT (From The Deadly Stripper):

He pushed open the door to the women's facilities and pulled her inside.
"Jay, we need to talk."
He opened the door to the handicap stall and jerked Celee into it.
"We will…later."
She stood next to the wall, bewildered, while he turned the lock. "Please tell me you didn't drag me here to fuck me. What am I now, your bathroom call girl?"
He met her gaze and took hold of her wrists. "You're not my call girl. I never thought you were. But I am going to fuck you because you’re the one I want."
He raised her wrists and backed her against the wall. Her ass bumped a railing while the front of their bodies collided. Pinning her arms above her, he covered her mouth with his and thrust his tongue deep inside.
Her body lit up like a flame as their tongues mingled in a feverish kiss. She could've resisted, could've used her vampire strength to move her arms and push him back, but she enjoyed his fiery passion and how he strived to please her. He wedged between her legs and rubbed his groin against her. From the hardness of his cock to the greedy kiss, she gave up her goal. Talking could wait. Feeling him deep inside her couldn't.
He raised her arms higher above her head, then held one over the other. Clearly, he wanted to control her, hold her in place while he had his way. She'd let him because she knew it excited him, made him want to touch, nip, and lick every bit of her. He placed his free hand on the side of her face, his thumb close to her lips.
"I want you, Celee. I'm so fucking hard right now." He kept his mouth so close she could feel his breath.
"Show me, Jay." She kissed him. "Show me you want me."
 
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Diane is a lifetime lover of the paranormal, sci-fi, and fantasy. Her mind constantly wanders into other worlds full of dark and mysterious creatures. Vampires, werewolves, demons, and other supernatural creatures are her friends. A few bite, others tempt, and some are hot as hell. Reader beware: She is not responsible for any titillation, increased temperatures, hormonal stirrings, or unusual bite marks. Besides writing, Diane enjoys sunny days, strong coffee in the morning, traveling, shopping with her daughter, laughter, and red wine. She dislikes taxes, slow drivers, cold weather, and cranky people.

Other books by Diane:
Demon in Disguise (Playful Demons 1)
Demons in Disguise (Playful Demons 2
Destined for Love (release date 1/7/2013)
Nikki's Story (Sisters of Lonewood 1, release date 11/27/2012)
Kate's Story (Sisters of Lonewood 2, release date Jan. 2013)

Find Diane and her books
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The Deadly Stripper
Sexy & Damned #1
Amazon  Barnes&Noble  iTunes  Kobo

Celee Spence is a stripper trying to survive in a world full of supernatural creatures. She also works for a demon whom she sold her soul to and got a raw deal. Her life is full of sex and violence with no end in sight. Then, a hot vampire finds her and presents a deal. In exchange for help in locating a young woman mingling in Celee’s industry, he offers the powerful elixir she needs to stay alive. Although Celee lacks understanding the vampire's motivation for wanting to save the girl, she accepts his proposal.

Sexy, armed, and dangerous, Celee places her life in jeopardy to save the human. What she discovers in the end not only shocks her, it gives her a new job to add to her resume. 

The Complicated Stripper
Sexy & Damned #2

Life is beyond complicated for Celee Spence. Tasked by both a demon and an angel, she must capture two teenagers without sending anyone who interferes to their grave. Werewolves and gun-toting gang members impede her job, but she manages to complete it for her demon boss. After she fulfills her mission for her angel friend, she finds out she will have to take the responsibility of caring for the teenager. Celee longs to avoid eternal damnation, but in a world filled with criminals, violence, sex, and non-humans, can a stripper offer the proper guidance a troubled youth needs?

Adding to her challenges, she must learn to control her raging hormones after she feeds, and her vampire donor seems unwilling to help. He suggests she seek out her friend, Jay, a singer who is pursuing his dream of fame. Can a human lover help her manage her carnal appetite?
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 International
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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Review: Blood and Mistletoe by E.J. Stevens

Blood and Mistletoe
Author:E.J. Stevens
Release Date: November 20, 2012
Publisher: Sacred Oaks Press
Ivy Granger Book #1.5
ASIN:   B00A2V2LC2
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Author

Holidays are worse than a full moon for making people crazy. In Harborsmouth, where many of the residents are undead vampires or monstrous fae, the combination may prove deadly.

Ivy Granger, psychic private investigator, returns to the streets of Harborsmouth in this addition to the bestselling urban fantasy series.

Holidays are Hell, a point driven home when a certain demon attorney returns with information regarding a series of bloody murders. Five Harborsmouth residents have been killed and every victim has one thing in common--they are fae. Whoever is killing faeries must be stopped, but they only leave one clue behind--a piece of mistletoe floating in a pool of the victim's blood.

The holidays just got interesting. Too bad this case may drive Ivy mad before the New Year. Heck, she'll be lucky to survive Christmas.

Blood and Mistletoe is an Ivy Granger series novella.

The Demon attorney is back and with him he brings Ivy a new lead that puts her on the path of a very old and dangerous being who is killing faeries. BLOOD AND MISTLETOE gave us a nice peek at how things are going in Harborsmouth since SHADOW SIGHT ended. There was a good amount of action with a fast paced but detailed plot. Unfortunately we don't get much of Ivy with her new beau so I think we need an extra dose in book 2 when it releases, but there is a neat little scene at the end of the book that I'm sure you will enjoy that involves them. 

Steven's has done a fantastic job with bringing her world to us. It is full of different creatures and she has a great way with details. I still have plenty of questions running through my head regarding Ivy and the series so I will definitely stay on track to read book 2, GHOST LIGHT.

I gave it 4/5 stars