Showing posts with label fairytale redeux. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fairytale redeux. Show all posts

Monday, May 12, 2014

GIRL LOST by Nazarea Andrews: Blog tour w/ Review


Title:  GIRL LOST
Author: Nazarea Andrews
Category/Genre: New Adult/Contemporary Romance

Blurb: 

Northern was supposed to be a fresh start—a place where people didn’t know who I was or how I had spent years in and out of mental institutes. People didn't know about my parents death or the island no one heard of. But when Peter sits next to me in lit class, I can’t stop the memories, and I don’t want to. He looks too much like the boy from the island, and despite my best intentions, coaxes my secrets from me.

He’s gorgeous, irresistible, a little mad, and completely lost—we are a pair of broken cogs in a world neither of us truly fits into. He is somehow gentle and fierce, heartbreaking in his devotion and savage in his defense.

When Belle, his best friend, shows up, pale and lovely and sick, Peter pulls away from me, a startling withdrawal. It’s a relationship that scares and confuses me. She is at times warm and friendly, and other times is violent and unpredictable.

Peter says that he wants me, but refuses to let himself get close. And there are secrets, surrounding both of us, that border on nightmares. As the memories close in, as Belle gets sicker and more violent, I’m torn between what is true and what I believe, and what this magical boy knows about my mysterious past.









My Review:

 *I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review*
Star rating: 3/5


I didn't really know what to make of this one. It was nothing like I expected, though that's not necessarily a bad thing. Peter Pan is without a doubt my favorite childhood story, and this was such an engaging take to the story. I spent almost the entire book (right up until the last few pages) wondering if Gwendolyn was crazy or not...But that's okay, because Nazarena kept me hooked the entire way through to find out. The writing style was unique, though a bit confusing. I found the transitions between flash backs and the present were unclear, and I often had to reread parts to understand what was happening. While Gwendolyn and Peter were fairy well developed, I think the other characters were left lacking. The ending kind of peeved me. Nothing was resolved, and I've looked and found no indication that this was the start of a series. 

About The Author


Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog.
You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
Nazarea Andrews is agented, and all inquiries about rights should be directed to Michelle Johsnon of Inklings Literary.


 

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Blog tour w/ Review: DIVIDE by Jessa Russo

Divide 

Title: DIVIDE
Author: Jessa Russo
Category/genre: Young Adult/Fantasy Romance

Goodreads Blurb

After accusations of torching her ex-boyfriend’s home are followed by the mysterious poisoning of her ex-best friend, seventeen-year-old Holland Briggs assumes her life is over. And it is. But not in the way she thinks.
As Holland learns the truth about her cursed fate—that she is descended from the Beast most have only ever heard of in fairytales—she unites with an unlikely ally, good-looking newcomer Mick Stevenson. 
Mick knows more about Holland’s twisted history than she does, and enlightening as it is to learn about, his suggestion for a cure is unsettling at best. Holland must fall in love with Mick in order to break the spell, and save their future generations from repeating her cursed fate. Having sworn off love after the betrayals of her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, this may be difficult to accomplish. 
Complicating things further for Holland and Mick, time runs out, and Holland’s change begins way before schedule. With Holland quickly morphing into a dangerous mythical creature, Mick struggles to save her. Should they fail, Holland will be lost to the beast inside her forever.



**I received a complimentary copy in exchange for a honest review.**

THE RAVE WORTHY: Okay, I don't even know where to start with this one.  Just...wow.  I was completely intrigued from the get go.  I have a thing for fairytale re-tellings, and even with my high expectations this blew me away.  Jessa's voice is so unique and perfectly suited to young adult.  She doesn't sound like the grown up trying to relate to kids-overusing the hip new lingo and such the way other YA authors tend to do.  This is a beautiful love story, and not just for the hero and the heroine.  Holland's relationship with her brother Cam is comforting and down right enviable (as is Ro and Mick's).  I love, love, LOVE the way Jessa made me fall in love with Mick right along with Holly.  He was a refreshingly sweet guy, a welcomed break from the overbearing alpha dogs in today's romances.  The book was gripping, haunting even, in the best of ways. 


THE GRUMBLE WORTHY:  This is one of those rare occasions where I have nothing at all to put here.  It was perfect. 


About the Author

View head shot 1.jpg in slide show 

Jessa Russo believes in fairytales, ghosts, and Jake Ryan. She insists mimosas were created for Sundays, and that’s not up for discussion. She’s obsessed with the great city of New Orleans—where she’s collected too many beads to count, eventually married her sweetheart, and visited graveyards they don’t include on maps. She’s loud, painfully honest, and passionate about living life to the fullest, because she’s seen how abruptly it can be taken away. What began as a desire for reading and writing young adult paranormal has bled into stories of all kinds. From fantasy to pre-dystopian to erotic contemporary, Jessa’s stories always include romance, though she’s given up on pigeonholing her work into a category or genre box.

Jessa was born and raised in Southern California, and remains there to this day with her husband (a classic car fanatic), their daughter (a Tim Burton superfan), and a Great Dane who thinks he’s the same size as his Chihuahua sister. ENTWINED, the final installment of Russo’s Ever Trilogy, will be released late 2014, as well as an erotic romance written under a pseudonym. Stay tuned! 

Monday, May 5, 2014

RED THE WERE HUNTER by Rebekah R. Ganiere: Blog Tour


Title: Red the Were Hunter
Author: Rebekah Ganiere
Genre: Fantasy Romance - A Fairytale Retelling
Publication Date: May 1, 2014


Red The Were Hunter is being published on May 1, 2014. Red is a Fantasy Romance which took 2nd place in the Hook, Line and Sinker contest and is a current finalist in the Great Beginning Contest. It is the first novel in the Farielle book series.


What if you were the key to an ancient prophecy that would begin to heal your lands, but fulfilling your destiny meant you had to turn your back on everything you'd been taught to believe in?

Redlynn of Volkzene, member of the Sisterhood of Red, is heartbroken to discover another girl kidnapped and her best friend slain by werewolves. Defying the head of her order, she sets out to kill the beast she believes responsible. The King of the Weres-- But there are worse things inWolvenglen Forest than the wolves.

Adrian, reluctant heir to the throne of Wolvenglen, and his band of wolf brothers are bound to protect the humans; especially the Sisterhood. Finding Redlynn unconscious in his woods, awakens in him a passion he's never before experienced and a protective instinct that has him ready to turn on his own men. Problem is, a female is the last thing Adrian needs complicating his life.

But all is not as it seems in Wolvenglen Forest and to save the missing girls before time runs out, Redlynn and Adrian must move past their inner demons and learn to trust each other. Perhaps finding the happiness they both so desperately desire.

Add to GoodReads






Excerpt #1:

Another girl had been taken. One moment the small village of Volkzenewas silent, with Redlynn drifting off to sleep to the rhythmical sounds of her clock ticking, the next a scream pierced the night.

Redlynn leapt from her bed, grabbed her sword, and tore out to the street. People in their nightclothes, brandishing torches and lanterns, filled the village center.

"Where are they?" she called at the nearest neighbor.

"Cantrel's." The woman ran for the safety of her home.

Anya! Redlynn sprinted toward the south edge of the village. Her best friend was on guard alone at the Cantrel's hut. Breathing hard, the cold night wind whipped her wavy, red hair into her face and raised goosebumps on her skin. The sound of her blood pumping in her ears drowned out the buzz of the village folk.

"Anya," she screamed. "Anya, where are you?"

Redlynn charged through the crowd gathered outside the hut. "Move," she yelled. The other members of the Sisterhood and villagers backed away at the sight of her.

The smell of blood hit her. She stepped over the threshold, the horror slapping her with force. Her heart faltered and a cry escaped her lips.

"Noooooooo!" she screamed. "Anya!"

Anya's mangled body lay sprawled on the floor, her bow still clutched in her fingers. Redlynn's mind numbed, unable to process the scene. She spun slowly on the spot. An arrow stuck in the wall next to the door. Bits of wood were strewn about from the smashed kitchen table. Coals tumbled from the fire, and little more than charred cinders remained of the curtains. A pail of water lay discarded nearby. The Cantrel's huddled on their bed in the adjoining room, Mrs. Cantrel sobbed into her husband's chest.

"Sasha, my Sasha," Mrs. Cantrel moaned.

Anger and despair ripped through Redlynn's gut. Her sword hit the floor with a clatter and she collapsed to her knees gathering her best friend's bloody body in her arms. She sucked in large gasps of air, tears streaming down her cheeks. The very last of my loved ones.

Anya stared blankly into the night, her eyes transfixed and cloudy. Redlynn stroked her hair and tried in vain to piece the skin together on Anya's neck and torso. At just nineteen, Anya had been through so much in her short life; too much, and now it was over. Sadness gave way to anger and bile scorched her throat.

"This is your fault," Mrs. Cantrel screeched pointing at Redlynn. "Where were you? You were supposed to stand guard with Anya."

Redlynn swallowed the angry words she wanted to say. "I'll find Sasha," she promised the teary eyed mother.

"Find her? Those beasts have probably already torn her to bits. You're the protector and where were you? Asleep. To let my Sasha be taken and poor Anya to be murdered. If you can’t even do the one thing we've kept you around for, what good are you?"

The words slapped Redlynn in the face. Her throat went dry. She searched for something to say. Something to soothe the mother, to soothe herself. "I'll find her."

"Get out of my house, Cursed!" Mrs. Cantrel screamed.

Redlynn's heart thundered in her chest. She laid Anya down, grabbed her sword and pushed out the door, past the crowd of Sisters and villagers. Running flat out she made for the village gate.

Excerpt #2:

Adrian reveled in the feel of Redlynn in his arms. It felt so natural for her to be there. It had been too long since he'd felt the touch of a woman. She looked up at him and licked her lips. Adrian's heartbeat quickened. He told himself that he needed to get her into her own room. But his body didn't move.

"Your heart is racing," she murmured.

He couldn’t speak. Her sweet breath fell lightly on his skin, cooling it.

"Why did you save me in the woods?"

Because you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and probably the one I am meant to take as a mate. "Because you were hurt."

"But you don't know me."

Adrian's eyebrows drew together. "Does that matter?"

"Most people would have left me for dead."

Anger soured his thoughts. Is that what had become of the Sisterhood? Were all males outside of Wolvenglen so callous? How could someone not stop and help a female in need? "Well, I'm not most people."

"No. You're not," she slurred. Her gaze shifted to his lips. She touched his cheek and then ran her fingers through his long hair. "Your hair's soft."

Adrian didn't dare breathe. A flesh and blood woman with golden eyes, and the mark of the wolf was in his arms. It went against everything he'd promised himself he wouldn't do. All the other females he'd said no to. All the years spent burying any desire to find a mate and settle down. All the times he told himself he wouldn't end up like his father. Bending his head, he breathed her in. She lifted her chin. Their lips were inches apart and he tasted her breath in his mouth.

"Adrian," she whispered.

He plunged down and closed the distance between them. The moan that escaped her was enough to send his wolf howling for more. Tangling his hand in her hair he guided her mouth to his more fully. Her lips parted and their tongues mingled in a soft swirl. His mind went numb. Adrian pressed closer to her and her arm twitched. He pulled away quickly.

"Are you alright?" He searched her face for signs of distress.

"It's my shoulder."

Dammit! He shouldn’t be doing this. It wasn't fair to lead her on. Especially with her medicated. "You should rest." He laid her on the pillow.

"Yes." Her eyes held desire and resistance. "I'm sorry for taking your bed again."

Me too. "It's fine. I can stay somewhere else."

"You can stay."

Adrian swallowed. It had gone too far. She wanted him to stay. Part of him wanted to say yes.



Rebekah R. Ganiere is an award winning author and member of the Romance Writers of America, her local LARA and OCC Chapters, as well as the VP of Communications for the Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Chapter. Rebekah is a moderator for the SCV Writers Group and on Savvy Authors. Her debut novel Dead Awakenings hit Amazon's Top 100 list in its genre right out of the gate and has received top review pick on several sites.

Rebekah's love for stories began as a child with Shel Silverstein. She began writing her own poetry and short stories in junior high and high school and then went on to study theater in college. Ultimately she ended up going back to writing so she could stay at home with her kids. Rebekah is a member of Romance Writers of America as well as member of the board for her Fantasy, Futuristic, & Paranormal and local Los Angeles Chapters. She is also a member of the Orange County, and Young Adult RWA Chapters.

When she isn't spending time telling the stories of the characters constantly chattering inside her head, you can find her hanging out with her husband, four children and menagerie of pets. A dog, a rabbit, 2 bearded dragons, 1 Russian Tortoise and 2 Leopard Tortoises. The escaped snake has yet to be located.





Released on May 1!!