Book Review: ESCAPE FROM WITCHWOOD HOLLOW by Jordan Elizabeth

Title: Escape From Witchwood Hollow
Author: Jordan Elizabeth
Category/Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
 My Star Rating: 4.5/5

Goodreads Blurb:
Everyone in Arnn - a small farming town with more legends than residents - knows the story of Witchwood Hollow: if you venture into the whispering forest, the witch will trap your soul among the shadowed trees.

After losing her parents in a horrific terrorist attack on the Twin Towers, fifteen-year-old Honoria and her older brother escape New York City to Arnn. In the lure of that perpetual darkness, Honoria finds hope, when she should be afraid.

Perhaps the witch can reunite her with her lost parents. Awakening the witch, however, brings more than salvation from mourning, for Honoria discovers a past of missing children and broken promises.

To save the citizens of Arnn from becoming the witch’s next victims, she must find the truth behind the woman’s madness.

How deep into Witchwood Hollow does Honoria dare venture?
  

My Review:

*I received a complimentary copy of this story in exchange for a honest review*
 
It took me longer than I thought it would to write this review because I really had to absorb this story after the shocking ending.  It would be unfair, though, to judge the whole book based on the last few pages alone, so here we go:

This was such an interesting story!  I loved how the same basic legend was told from the perspective of three different women from three different time periods.  At first, this was very confusing to me and I often lost track of which character's story was being told when.  This kept me from really enjoying the story since I kept having to pull out and think to myself, "Wait, which one is she again?"  But, I quickly got used to the 'time-hopping' and once I got to know the characters it flowed nicely.  Very well written, and characterization was on point.  But...Jordan...That ending, though?! Why would you do that to me??

My Writing Goals For 2016

So, confession:  2015 was not a great year for me in the writing world. I edited and published Prisoner Of Posiedon, but I only actually wrote one book.  That's way slower than my usual rate of knocking them out, and there were many, many reasons behind it.  Truthfully, I didn't have the energy or the desire to write much of anything because of some personal issues I've been going through...but that's where BEASTLY came in.  The one book I did write was more of a therapy for me.  I'm disappointed I didn't accomplish more, but I forgive myself because I know first hand what I was going through and frankly, getting out of bed and going to work everyday was asking too much considering how I was feeling.

At any rate! 2016 is a new year, and I insist on making this one more productive than the last.  I've made a list of goals for this year:

1. Publish BEASTLY - Two of my very favorite and preferred publishers have expressed interest..yay!  Fingers crossed this happens sooner rather than later.

2. Write HEAT IN HADES - The third and final book in the Villain's Love Series.

3. Write BEASTLY: AWAKENING - the second book in the BEASTLY series.

4. At least begin planning BEASTLY: REVOLUTION - the third and final book in the 

BEASTLY series.

This is what I would like to have done at the bare minimum for the year. 

Do you have any writing goals for the year?  Or maybe some reading goals?  Tell me about them!

Book Blast: BLOOD MOON by Kristy Centeno

PRESENTED BY

Title: Blood Moon

Series: Secrets of the Moon saga

Vol or Book #: 5

Author: Kristy Centeno

Audience: Young/New Adult

Genre: Paranormal

Format: E-book

Publisher: Inkspell Publishing

Cover by: Najla Qamber

Editor: Melissa Keir

Pages: 93

ASIN: B017VJVUHE

Date Published: December 18, 2015

The mystery deepens…but the truth slowly begins to unravel.

In the midst of an impending war, comradeships will be forged, relationships mended, and bonds strengthened. 

We’re closer to dismantling the alpha’s plan now than ever before, but when tragedy strikes, our commitment to a cause kept alive for the memory of our loved ones will be tested. Our ties tried. Our sanity preyed upon. 

Darkness will shadow our lives. A common goal, however, can help us move forward. 

Can we pick up the pieces long enough to ensure a future for Marjorie? Or will another loss be the evil that breaks me? 

AMAZON / GOODREADS / IBOOKS

Other –http://www.inktera.com/store/title/3e7e7d54-43da-4f6c-847e-7ea888abb9e4

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/blood-moon-66

I focus on my surroundings as I go, listening for any warning of danger. But what I hear instead is the unmistakable sign of distress. Alexis is in trouble. Fear unlike any I have ever known takes a hold of me and I pick up pace, overwhelming my body’s capacity with the extra effort. Trees become blurry images of green and brown as I flash on by. I run, jumping over fallen logs, landing swiftly on my legs before continuing on. I let nothing stop me. Not the threat of other wolves nearby. Not the signals of protests I receive from my brain in an attempt to warn me to take things slower as I am hurt and losing a lot of blood.  

I can’t stop now.  

Alexis is close enough I can already smell his favorite cologne in the air, blowing in my face. But then I hear it. There’s no mistaking the sound of snapping bones. Hot searing pain spreads through me as if I’ve been speared by a sizzling poker stick. My steps falter and I end up smashing my left shoulder into a large oak tree in front of me, which causes it to pop out of place. The air is knocked out of my lungs and I fall to my knees, struggling to catch my breath. My ears perk up in a vain attempt to pick up on any signs from my twin, but all they note is the silence.

Kristy Centeno is the author of the Secrets of the Moon saga and Keeper Witches series.

She has always had a passion for books and after years of being an avid reader, she decided to transform her desire to write into a reality and thus, her first novel was born. When she’s not busy taking care of her five children or holding down the fort, she finds time to sit and do what she loves the most: writing.

WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / GOODREADS / BLOG / AMAZON

LINKED IN / GOOGLE + / TSU / PINTEREST

Cover Reveal: FROM UNDER THE MOUNTAIN by Cait Spivey

About From Under The Mountain:

As the second child of the Aridan imperial family, nineteen-year-old Guerline knows exactly what is expected of her: be unobtrusive, be compliant, and do not fall in love with her low-born companion, Eva. She has succeeded at only two of those.

But before her feelings for Eva can become a point of contention for the royal house, Guerline's calm and narrow life is ripped away from her—in the course of a single night—and she is abruptly cast in the role of empress.

Faced with a council that aggressively fears the four witch clans charged with protecting Arido and believes they are, in fact, waging war against the humans, Guerline struggles to maintain order. As her control over the land crumbles, she learns that the war is rooted in a conflict much older than she realized—one centuries in the making, which is now crawling from under the mountain and into the light. With the fate of Arido hanging in the balance, Guerline must decide who to trust when even her closest councilors seem to have an agenda.

Darkly cinematic, From Under the Mountain pairs the sweeping landscape of epic fantasy with the personal journey of finding one’s voice in the world, posing the question: how do you define evil, when everything society tells you is a lie? | Add to Goodreads

About Cait Spivey: 

Cait Spivey is a speculative fiction writer, author of high fantasy FROM UNDER THE MOUNTAIN and the horror novella series, “The Web“. Her enduring love of fantasy started young, thanks to authors like Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, Diane Duane, Tamora Pierce, and many more. Now, she explores the rules and ramifications of magic in her own works—and as a panromantic asexual, she’s committed to queering her favorite genres. In her spare time, she plans her next tattoo (there will always be a next tattoo) and watches too much Netflix. Anything left over is devoted to her tireless quest to make America read more. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her darling husband Matt and adorable dog Jay.

Check out more from YA fantasy author Cait Spivey online or on twitter.

Book Review: CHANGELING by Debbie Herbert

Title: Changeling
Author: Debbie Herbert

Category/Genre: New Adult Fantasy Romance


My Star Rating: 5/5

Goodreads Blurb: 


She "thought"she was a witch...she's more Skye's a teen witch who sucks at spells and works at a metaphysical store, The Green Fairy. Strange things are happening there at night: black specks of movement out of the corner of her eye, mysterious buzzing noises, unidentified dragonfly-like carcasses in the basement, and a hidden cache of absinthe (aka fairy crack).

Kheelan is a human changeling. Raised with the fairies, he's viewed as an inferior species whose only use is to serve his kidnappers. He's been totally screwed by the Fae and his only goal in life is freedom. When he meets Skye, he sees an opportunity to escape. The last thing he needs is to be distracted by feelings for this quirky witch.

Skye stumbles upon the remains of dead fairies at the store and is approached by Kheelan who has been sent to investigate the pixie murders. Skye falls for him--only to discover he's using her to win his freedom. He tells her she is half-fairy and has secret powers, but Skye finds it hard to believe when she can never get a spell to work.

As Samhain, the witch's Halloween, draws near she must make a bold move to claim her heritage and power, restore order in the fairy realm, and try to win Kheelan's freedom and love. Absinthe, autism and augury meld into a paranormal cauldron where fairies are sly tricksters waiting to trap you in their Realm.

My Review: 

As usual, Debbie Herbert created a stellar story that will stay with me for a long, long time.  Skye is the young lady most of us were in our late teens; a confused, still-searching-for-herself adolescent who doesn’t give herself enough credit.  I loved how well I could relate to her character.  Kheenan was complex and multi-dimensional, demonstrating the effects of a lifetime of abuse and neglect while still allowing the story to stay light. The magic and world-building was astoundingly vivid and colorful, while the storyline flowed perfectly with sprinklings of real-life social issues throughout (the slavery of the human race by fairies for one).  The amount of research that went into every detail was obvious.  Debbie made sure she knew her stones and her fae mythology inside and out.  Of course, I expected nothing less.  Debbie has once again displayed a bounty of talent for the creative writing process, officially making her my favorite author of 2015!

 

DUAL COVER REVEAL from Curiosity Quills

Today's the day for a dual cover reveal: OF SCIONS AND MEN by Courtney Sloan and GYRE by Jessica Gunn! Both books are in the New Adult category and are being published by Curiosity Quills Press.

Here's a bit about each book:

OF SCIONS AND MEN by Courtney Sloan (February 22nd, 2016)

Geopolitical babysitting while arresting preternatural killers, it’s just the daily grind for Scion Rowan Brady. Brash and sarcastic, Rowan has sold her life, her career and her very blood to the controlling paranormal ruling class of America, all to make sure her kid brother can eat. Now she uses her powers as a scion to kick the ass of any preternatural creature idiotic enough to break the rules and prey upon humanity without a license. All it costs her is her freedom and a pint or two per week to her new Master.

But juggling her job and duties becomes even tougher when she is tasked with keeping a contingency of diplomats from Canada from getting gnawed on. However, negotiations for an International Blood Exchange are interrupted when bodies start showing up. Now Rowan must rely on her talent and wit to defend the society she despises to save the lives she’s sworn to protect. But as she stumbles into the truth, she chances becoming a target of not only these killers, but of her own government. With shifters, ghosts, vampires and psychics all watching her, can she stop the killings before she is silenced?

ADD OF SCIONS AND MEN TO GOODREADS HERE

***

GYRE by Jessica Gunn (February 1st, 2016)

Trevor couldn’t believe his eyes when Chelsea teleported onto SeaSatellite5. The miracle is Trevor’s absolute worst nightmare. Chelsea is Atlantean, which would be fine if Trevor’s family weren’t Lemurian—enemies of Atlantis. Then SeaSatellite5 uncovers Atlantean ruins and stumbles into the crosshairs of an ancient war. The Lemurians want the artifacts inside the ruins, and Trevor’s the only one onboard who recognizes the relics for what they really are: Link Pieces, tools used by ancient civilizations to wage their time-travel war. Chelsea and Trevor must brave the gyre of lies surrounding them. If they can’t, Atlantis will be destroyed forever.

ADD GYRE TO GOODREADS HERE

***

Are you ready to see the covers?

*

Here we go!

*

*

*

*

PRE-ORDER GYRE HERE!

PRE-ORDER OF SCIONS AND MEN HERE!

***

ABOUT COURTNEY SLOAN

A New Orleans native, Courtney Sloan relocated to the hills of Central Maryland after Hurricane Katrina. There she lives with her husband and fellow author, J.P. Sloan, their son and their crazy German Shepherd pup. Adding to her writing life, Courtney is also a professor at the local college and enjoys learning a world of new ideas from her students as she teaches them about writing and communicating. Courtney’s New Orleans upbringing has left her with a love for the macabre and a flare for the next to normal. She writes speculative fiction with a variety of horror and sass mixed in for flavor.

She loves taking the world of politics that haunts us now, and adding the supernatural to create a gumbo of thrills to keep you up at night.  A self-proclaimed lover of way too many fandoms, Courtney also loves crafting. From blankets to jams to stories, it’s always better homemade.

Author Links: Twitter | Website

ABOUT JESSICA GUNN

Jessica Gunn is a New Adult author and avid science-fiction and fantasy fan. Her favorite stories are those that transport the reader to other, more exciting worlds. When not working or writing, she can be found binge-watching Firefly and Stargate, or feeding her fascination of the ancient world’s many mysteries. Jessica also holds a degree in Anthropology.

Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Website

Book Review: SIREN'S CALL (Dark Seas #3) by Debbie Herbert

 

Title: Siren's Call, Dark Seas #3
Author: Debbie Herbert
Category/genre: Fantasy Romance
My Star Rating: 5/5

Goodreads Blurb: 

Blood enemies, bound lovers...
He’d loved a vampire once, only to have her murdered by vengeful Freebloods.  Now to save his half-blood son from kidnappers, Garret Fox must look to another Freeblood for help. Once the empathic vampire Artemis reluctantly drinks his human blood, she cannot deny his request. But although their connection runs deep, their attraction hot, Garret can never forget what Artemis truly is.
Sharing Garret’s thoughts and feelings has wreaked havoc on her emotions. Discovering a malevolent force bent on destroying everyone they both care for brings her even closer to the human. Yet as Artemis fights side by side with her lover, she is deeply conflicted. Even if they both manage to survive this evil, how can she ever hope to find a true home with a man who hates her very kind?

My Review:

This was by far my favorite in the series. I absolutely fell in love with Nash. His struggle to withhold himself because he was so worried for Lily's safety was the heart of the romance for me. The guilt he was gripped with over his past made him an approachable character despite his total sexy, masculine flair. Lily was initially the perfect example of the girl you loved to hate in high school, but as the story goes on she develops a depth that brings you to adore her. Native American culture and beliefs were expertly woven into the story, both serving as a vital element to the plot and as a fantastic addition to the entertainment value of this novel.

Debbie continues to be one of my favorites, and I can't wait to read more from this amazing author!