Showing posts with label Urban Fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Urban Fantasy. Show all posts

February 13, 2015

Book Promol! Cut Here by Azzura Knox


Sixteen-year-old Lena Martin's idyllic world shatters the night her mother dies due to a hit and run accident. Two years later, her dad relocates her from Italy to Los Angeles to help her put behind the time spent in a psychiatric ward following her mother's death. But the move only proves to be a fatal mistake. Shortly after her arrival, the classmates of her new private school begin to commit suicide under mysterious circumstances after reading a cult book called Cut Here.

Determined to unravel the mystery behind the suicides, she bands together with loner Jonathan Russe and outcast Hope Peters to figure out exactly what is happening, not realizing that this places them under a dangerous radar. During this same time, Lena falls for a mysterious and attractive guy named Michael, who is as equally disarming as he's dangerous.

As her attraction grows, so does the body count at St. Lucy Academy. Soon, Lena needs to decide whether to stay away from the guy she's falling for, or to trust him. Is Michael behind the suicides, or is he the key that can unlock the mystery that can stop the bloodshed? Deceptions run high and Lena soon learns that nothing is what it seems.


Born in Catania, Sicily, she has led a nomadic life since birth. She has lived in various European cities and Cuba, and currently resides in the Los Angeles area. Always an avid reader and writer from a young age, she loved entertaining her friends with ghost stories. She loves horror movies, cats, and a good rock show. She dislikes Mondays and chick-flicks. CUT HERE, her debut paranormal urban fantasy was inspired by a nightmare the writer had a few years ago. Some of her favourite authors include Anne Rice, Oscar Wilde, Chuck Palahniuk, and Isabella Santacroce.



February 1, 2015

Book Blitz: Excerpt and Giveaway! My Soul To Keep, Rise of the Fallen #1 by Sean Hayden

It was only a wish. 

Connor Sullivan was painfully average. The very highlight of his existence was going to school, doing homework, and playing video games. He thought nothing would ever change that. Unfortunately, homework usually screws everything up.
A cut, some blood, and a hastily scrawled promise to sell his soul for his fondest wish...and all hell breaks loose. Literally.

The Demons take him up on his offer.

In a last ditch effort to keep his soul, he wishes to become one of the demons, or Fallen as they call themselves. Connor thought he had found a solution to his problem. He never fully understood the meaning of the phrase, "From the frying pan into the fire," until his wish was granted. The biggest catch?

Never ever fall in love with a human...

And then she walked into his school. Beautiful, red-haired, funny...and blind. Connor's heart didn't stand a chance. Neither did the Fallen's rules. He had saved his soul, but could he find happiness without hurting the girl he loved? Or would secrets Jessica didn't even know she had destroy them all?

Don't miss book 2, Your Soul to Take! Available now!
Available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.



I heard the motorcycle turn onto the street I was walking on, and the rumbling grew to an almost painful level. I turned and saw it coming up fast. I expected it to blow past me at an ungodly speed, but as soon as the bike got close, the rider yanked the handlebars and fishtailed to a stop just a few inches from the curb next to me.

She looked like a supermodel dressed in leather. Dark curly tresses fell over her shoulders and down her back. I frowned a little at her lack of helmet. I never understood people's obsessions with death wishes. Then I gave her a second look over. She looked badass enough to crack the pavement. Maybe she didn't need a helmet. My eyebrows rose as I finally looked at her face.

She was gorgeous from head to toe. I felt a little guilty about looking at her face last. It was without a doubt, her best feature. She looked really young, but at the same time, something about her made her look older. The term, "Ageless," popped into my head, filling in the blank.

I expected her to shout and ask for directions over the rumble of the Harley’s engine, but she reached down and turned the key, shutting the engine off. I stood there mesmerized as she swung one leg over the bike and sat on the seat, staring right back at me.

She crossed her arms and lowered her gaze to my shabby Sketchers and raised her eyes, slowly taking in everything else.

I wanted to hide behind a tree. Nobody had looked at me like that since the first time I met my great-aunt Harriet. I had a feeling she was doing the math to figure out how much she could get for me if she sold me on eBay.

“Connor Sullivan?” She made my name a question. I nodded dumbly. “Come on, let’s get this over with.”

“Excuse me?”

“Look, I don’t have time for this. I have three more after you. What do you want?”

“Excuse me?” The word hooker flashed through my mind.

“Did you, or did you not, sign a binding contract offering your soul in exchange for one wish? If I have the wrong Connor Sullivan who lives at 1432 Willow Street, I apologize.” She rolled her eyes and threw up her arms, apparently more than a little annoyed.

“That was real?”

“Yes, completely. Now I haven’t got all night. What do you want? Make it good. The price is a little hefty I’ll admit, but it's worth it.”

Realization dawned on me. My knees went weak, but I managed to stay on my Sketchers. “This isn’t some sort of joke?”

“Nope, one wish for one soul, that was the deal.”


Born the son of a fire chief, Sean naturally developed a love of playing with fire. His family and friends quickly found other outlets for his destructive creativity. Writing is his latest endeavor.
Always a fan of the macabre, mythical, and magical, Sean found a love of urban fantasy and horror. After writing several novels in this genre, he found, fell in love with, and immersed himself in steampunk. He has always wanted to rewrite history and steampunk gave him that opportunity.
Sean currently lives in Florida as a fiber-optic engineer as well as an author. He was blessed with the two most amazing children he could ever hope for, has met the absolute love of his life, who coincidentally is his partner in everything. His hobbies include grand designs on world domination as well as a starring role in his own television sitcom.


January 28, 2015

Book Blitz and Giveaway! False Finder by Mia Hoddell


Cora has been able to detect lies since she was born, she’s…a False Finder.

However when blackmail, betrayal, and lying are all the population has to protect themselves, it makes her dangerous. It also makes her a target.

Because of Cora’s ability, Rogan Carvelli—London’s biggest criminal leader—has been trying to acquire her for years.

Cora has learned to survive and remain undetected—at least until one careless mistake causes her friends to betray her.

Sold to Carvelli, Cora is only left with the help of a secret organisation to escape. She knows nothing about them, but they have saved her too many times to ignore.

However, the closer she gets, the clearer it becomes…
Their motives are far from innocent.



“Not my fight? How did you come to that conclusion? You made it my fight when you sold me, Cora. This is your fault not mine, and you only have yourself to blame!” Nick roared, his grip tightening to a new painful intensity.

“I did not sell you. I cut a deal with Rogan and you were collateral damage. I couldn’t help it.” 

Even Cora flinched at her words. What she had done to Nick was awful, but it was a necessity if she was going to survive.

“You signed my life away. You ruined my life by forcing me into a god-damned contract that has no loop holes. Not only that, but then you had the audacity to attack me when you escaped Rogan’s mansion last time. That is not collateral damage!”

He didn’t realise he was shaking her fragile body until she let out another low groan. 

“You weren’t meant to be a part of the deal. I couldn’t help it. I tried to get you out of it, but there was no way. It was me or you.”

“Don’t bullshit me. You know there was a way out. I did nothing to you but be there and you sold me out, just like your friends have done to you.” His words cut Cora like a knife, slitting her deep.

“You knew too much…you knew my secret…you weren’t meant to survive.” Cora muttered the last line, her jaw tight with anger as she finally admitted the truth she had kept bottled up. He wasn’t meant to hear it, but he did.

“What did you just say?” He was shaking her once more, anger flowing out of him as he was finally enlightened as to why Cora had betrayed him.

“You weren’t meant to survive. You shouldn’t have passed the first test Rogan puts his men through. You weren’t meant to come back. I was meant to be safe.”

“Well unluckily for you I manned up. Not only did I pass every test Rogan threw at me but I worked my way up. I’m now his second in command. How’s that for irony?”

“Screw you,” Cora spat, tired of the conversation.

“You wish. For now though, I think I’ll return the favour you so kindly granted me all those years ago.” 

“Let me go, Nick, for old time’s sake. I thought we were friends?” It was a lousy defence and Cora knew it, but it was all she had left.

“We stopped being friends years ago when you shafted me, Cora. I couldn’t care less what happens to you anymore. Now shut up and move.”




Mia Hoddell lives in the UK with her family and two cats. She spends most of her time writing or reading, loves anything paranormal or romantic, and has an overactive imagination that keeps her up until the early hours of the morning. 
By the age of nineteen, Mia had published nine books, including the Elemental Killers series and the Seasons of Change series. Since then, her books have charted on numerous Amazon Bestseller Lists, and she has also had poems published in a many anthologies. With an ever growing list of ideas, Mia continues to create fictional worlds through her writing, and is trying to keep up with the speed at which her imagination generates them.
She also designs book covers and banners on her website M Designs





January 23, 2015

Book Blitz and Giveaway! Isla's Oath, Isla's Inheritance #2 by Cassandra Page


Australia is a long way from the Old World and its fae denizens ... but not far enough.

Isla is determined to understand her heritage and control her new abilities, but concealing them from those close to her proves difficult. Convincing the local fae she isn’t a threat despite her mixed blood is harder still. When the dazzling Everest arrives with a retinue of servants, Isla gets her first glimpse of why her mother’s people are hated ... and feared.

But Isla isn’t the only one with something to hide. Someone she trusts is concealing a dangerous secret. She must seek the truth and stop Everest from killing to get what he wants: Isla’s oath.


As we reached the floor of the valley, my ears strained to hear the sounds of a village going about its evening business. The air was still. I could clearly hear the sighing of the distant trees between the rhythmic slapping of our footsteps against the cobbles. Part of it was the lack of electronic noise from the buildings we passed—no televisions, gaming consoles or radios chattered here. But it was more than that. And it couldn’t be that everyone was asleep either. Jack had already made the point that the duinesidhe were primarily nocturnal.

“Is it normally this quiet?” I whispered.

Jack shook his head.

“They’re hiding from me.” It wasn’t a question; I already knew the answer.

“I warned them you might be coming. They are cautious.”

“They’re afraid.”

He nodded, eyes sad.

The thought made my stomach churn. “Let’s get this done so I can leave and they can get back to normal then.”

Jack led me through the deserted streets to a small garden cottage surrounded by bushes and climbing vines that sagged, heavy with flowers. Most of the blooms were shut for the night, except for a spray of white evening primrose near the gate. The sweet, heady scent of the blooms eased my anxiety, intermingling with the aromas of fragrant herbs—I could smell lavender, basil, lemon balm and mint—from elsewhere in the garden.

If I were a creature who collected smells, this was the sort of garden I would grow. Although given I had a black thumb I might need Aunt Elizabeth to come and tend it for me.

Jack knocked on the wooden cottage door. There was no answer. I stood patiently by his side for a minute or so before raising my eyebrows at him. He shrugged apologetically and knocked again.

Maybe the puca would be more likely to answer the door if I weren’t standing so close? I wandered back towards the garden beds. I wasn’t an avid gardener like my aunt. I knew enough to identify some of the flowers, at least those that were common Canberra varieties. Most of these plants were strange to me. One, with glossy green leaves and plump buds, caught my eye. From the wicked, curved thorns that pierced the stems like the hooked claws of a cat, it was probably a variety of rose, although not one I’d ever seen. The petals were a vivid royal purple.

I heard murmuring voices behind me and glanced back to see Jack was bent over double, head poking through a dog flap in the bottom half of the cottage door. I couldn’t hear what he was saying but he sounded irritated. A muffled voice replied, “I’ve changed my mind. Go away!”

Pretending not to notice, I turned my attention back to the flowers with a sigh, running a luminescent finger—I didn’t think I would ever get used to that—along the outside of one of the fat buds. The petal was soft as fine silk.

The flower unfurled under my fingertip.

I gasped. The sweet, distinctive aroma of roses in bloom filled the air as, one after another, radiating out from the flower I’d touched, the rest of the buds on the bush opened to the night sky.


Cassandra Page is a mother, author, editor and geek. She lives in Canberra, Australia’s bush capital, with her son and two Cairn Terriers. She has a serious coffee addiction and a tattoo of a cat — despite being allergic to cats. She has loved to read since primary school, when the library was her refuge, and loves many genres — although urban fantasy is her favourite. When she’s not reading or writing, she engages in geekery, from Doctor Who to AD&D. Because who said you need to grow up?




January 19, 2015

Book Promo and Giveaway! Unhidden, The Gatekeeper Chronicles #1 by Dina M. Given

Unhidden FOR WEB
Book Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance
goodreads
 
It’s not always easy to differentiate between the good guys and the bad guys, especially when a trained killer may be falling in love with her evil hunter… Emma Hayes, a former military Special Forces Operative turned mercenary-for-hire, finds her tightly controlled world turned upside down when she becomes the target of attacks by powerful supernatural creatures. Emma must use every skill in her arsenal to stay alive as she tries to solve the mystery of why she has been targeted. Her list of enemies keeps growing - from Zane Shayde, an evil Mage, to a secret branch of the US government - and she doesn't know if there is anyone left she can trust. To complicate matters further, Emma is inexplicably drawn to Zane in a way she does not quite understand, even knowing her life is forfeit if captured. Who is he and why does he have this affect on her? How can she fight someone who calls to her, body and soul? Emma is left haunted by questions, doubts and fears as to why she has been targeted, when they will come for her next, and how she will possibly survive against an enemy she doesn't understand. 


I body checked him so he stumbled through the doors, hitting the far wall of the elevator. I followed him in, keeping my gun pointed at his chest, then pressed the only button inside the elevator that would take us to the bottom of the shaft, fifteen stories below ground. The doors slid shut, and with a jerk, the elevator began moving. It was only when my prisoner began to change that I realized it might not have been the most brilliant idea in the world to cage myself into a small box suspended over open air with a complete stranger. I had once again forgotten I was potentially dealing with a supernatural enemy, and I shouldn’t have assumed my tail was only a normal human being. The man standing huddled in the corner straightened to his full height of only ’five-foot-ten, and his eyes began to glow a pale yellow. “I’m more of a lover than a fighter …” he said, his voice becoming deeper and rougher with every word. I heard the snapping of what I realized were his bones, and his skin bulged and rippled as if something living beneath it was trying to get out. His face elongated, and wickedly sharp teeth extended from what was quickly becoming a muzzle. “But I can dish out a pretty good disemboweling,” he completed in a growl before the transformation of his mouth prevented any further human speech. His clothes tore away as his limbs bulged and bent. He fell to all fours as course, gray hair sprouted over his entire body. Cold terror bled through my body, filling my veins with ice as I tried to remember all the rules I had seen in movies about taking down a werewolf. I had no way of knowing whether there was any truth to them, but it was all I had to go on. Unfortunately, the bullets in my gun were made of steel, not silver. He completed the transformation from man to wolf in a matter of seconds, although even before then, I had put three bullets into him. I continued to hold out hope that I could interrogate him; therefore, I didn’t aim for his head. Instead, I blew out his knee, trying to incapacitate him. I was surprised when the creature actually let out a yelp of pain as a spray of blood and cartilage hit the back wall of the elevator, and the wolf’s leg collapsed under it. He still had three good legs, though, and he lunged at me with snapping jaws. I got off another two shots, but they went wide, missing him as he barreled into me. I managed to keep hold of the weapon, but the wolf’s jaws clamped down on the gun. Unfortunately, the muzzle was not pointed into his mouth; thus, pulling the trigger would just put a bullet harmlessly into the wall of the elevator. I needed the gun though. I wasn’t about to let go of it. With my free hand, I punched the wolf square in the muzzle, raining repeated blows on its face, my hand going numb as my knuckles split and bled, but I kept hitting him. His eye was a bruised and swollen mess, and blood poured freely from his nose. When I felt his jaws loosening, I pushed past the pain in my hand and hammered him with one final fist to the nose, throwing my entire body weight behind it. He released me, and I brought up my gun, but he was changing again. Thinking he was shifting back into a man and conceding the fight, I held my fire. Instead, his muzzle sharpened and hardened into a point. His gray fur sprouted feathers, and his arms extended into broad wings that flapped wildly. His injured leg was less of an impediment now that he could fly. He lifted from the floor and dove straight for me. I ducked, instinctively raising my arms to protect my head and face. He hit the wall behind me yet recovered quickly and flew at me again. Staying low, I tried to get a bead on him with my gun, but he was moving too fast. The cramped elevator wasn’t large; however, this form made him quicker, more capable of tight turns, and gave him more room to maneuver since he could take advantage of the air space above my head. He launched at me with talons bared and sliced through my forearm as I shielded my eyes. The pain was sharp and intense, and blood flowed freely from the lacerations.   


Dina Given lives in rural New Jersey – home of farms, horses and the largest hot air balloon festival in North America – with her husband, two crazy kids, and one rescue dog. She is an exercise enthusiast and avid lover of food and wine (hence the need to exercise). Dina also works full time for one of the largest healthcare companies in the world. She attributes her ability to juggle family, work and writing to her obsessive, hyper-focused, Type A personality.  

 



 

January 4, 2015

Review! Magic Bites, Kate Daniels #1 by Ilona Andrews

Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up paranormal problems. Atlanta has two factions struggling for power. Masters of the Dead are necromancers who control vampires. The Pack are a paramilitary clan of shapechangers. When Kate's guardian is killed, she is caught between.

My Review ...
An Atlanta decimated by magic. Creatures we’ve only read about in books come out to play and a future unlike anyone could have predicted. 

Kate is a mercenary and her job is to help people deal with the consequences of a magic weave, meaning helping them get rid of whatever creatures were left behind in their back yard when the magic retreats and technology is back up again. 

It’s not much but it works for her because Kate has to blend in and always take care not to leave traces. She has a secret that no one can imagine and, if that secret gets out, it will bring total destruction. 

But one day, the only person she ever cared about after losing her father, ends up dead and she’ll have to join forces with the shape shifters to unearth the ones who did it. 

One meeting with the Beast Lord of Atlanta and her life will change forever. 

Curran is used to always have his orders obeyed and he’s arrogant as hell but Kate has no intentions of doing so. In fact, she challenges him every step of the way and does her best to drive him to violence. 

When they’re not fantasizing about tearing each other’s clothes off, they’re ready to kill one another. 

But between one fight and another, they’ll have to find this assassin who, if not stopped, will create more chaos than anyone can deal with. 

Prepare yourselves for the ride of your lives in a world where magic rules, your worst nightmares may become reality anytime and the only hope comes from a rebel woman with a deadly secret and a pack of shape shifters who seem insane most of the time. 

Sounds like fun, huh? You can’t even imagine. 

Gordon and Ilona Andrews sure know how to write a story. When I wasn’t on the edge of my seat, holding my breath and trying to read faster and find out what happens next, I was laughing hysterically at Kate and Curran’s antics. I highly recommend this series. Seven books in and I’m far from getting bored. On the contrary. 

Happy Reading!
In The Series
 


Expected publication: August 4th 2015

Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. author2sm“Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)
Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Oregon with their two children, three dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.