Sunday, August 31, 2014

Week in Review: 8/24-8/30


Books I've Bought/received

- Red Blooded by Amanda Carlson - eARC- Publisher via NetGalley

- Claimed by Light by Reese Monroe - eARC- Netgalley

- Gray Bishop by Kelly Meade, eARC- Publisher via NetGalley

- Forged in Fire by Juliette Cross- eARC- NetGalley

- The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows- eARC- Edelweiss

Books I've Read

The Aftermath by Jen Alexander
Red Blooded by Amanda Carlson
A Secret to Die For by Sierra Dean
Saving the Hero by Sabrina Sumsion
A Human Element by Donna Galanti
Predator & Prey by James D. Horton

Reviews Posted

The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost
Betting on Julia by Nina Croft
His Secret Superheroine by Patricia Eimer
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* New Releases for the week. Was there anything you were looking forward to reading?

* Wednesday- Guest Blog & Giveaway for Night Unbound by Dianne Duvall

* Thursday- Guest Blog & Giveaway for Accidentally ... Over? by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff 

* Friday-  Interview & Giveaway for The Spanish Billionaire's Baby Promise by Sheritha Singh

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* Did you know you can follow UFI on these other sites?

You can also add me (as in Stacy) to your friends on these sites if you're on them.
 
 * I love comments so if you see something you like (or not) please comment away and let me know.

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Review: The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost

The Beautiful Ashes
Release Date: August 26, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN:  1306906725
ISBN13: 9781306906722
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: NetGalley
In a world of shadows, anything is possible. Except escaping your fate.

Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse—her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. And the one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who's bound by an ancient legacy to betray her.

Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn't mean he can change his fate…no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy. Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn't: that every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny, and a war that could doom the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side and Adrian on the other. And nothing but ashes in between…

I was really excited to see a new series from Jeaniene Frost. Everything I have read from her I have thoroughly enjoyed, so I jumped right in to THE BEAUTIFUL ASHES expecting nothing less than a great story.

THE BEAUTIFUL ASHES starts off with the main character already in the middle of something so you don't have a back story or any real idea what is going on. The author however makes it really easy for you to fall into her story while keeping your mind busy on other things. I actually found myself looking forward to each little slow reveal of the overall story, but I was content to wait for those small reveals.

The romance wasn't really what drove the story for me. Sure it progressed and Ivy and Adrian fit together/made sense, but it was a slow progression with Adrian fighting a relationship the entire way. There is bad history between their family lines that make it easy to understand but the story itself is what I felt drove THE BEAUTIFUL ASHES.

The end didn't give me as much satisfaction as I would have liked. It was somewhat easy to guess and the final conflict wasn't as *POW* as I thought it deserved. THE BEAUTIFUL ASHES was a great start to Jeaniene's new series, I think anyone that likes her previous books will enjoy it.

I gave it 4/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Friday, August 29, 2014

Interview & Giveaway: The Spanish Billionaire's Baby Promise by Sheritha Singh

UFI welcomes Sheritha Singh Author of The Spanish Billionaire's Baby Promise. Thanks for Joining us!!

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for having me over. I'm Sheritha Singh, author of The Spanish Billionaire's Baby Promise, releasing on August 28 from Breathless Press.

This or That

Angels or Demons

ANGELS - I'm too chicken to take on a demon.

Vampires or Shifters

VAMPIRES. I'd never really know what a shifter could change into. With a vampire I'd know for sure.

Left or Right.

Right? I'm right handed.

Up or Down

Up. We should all strive to reach the heights of success in everything we do.

Pizza or Pasta

I'm allergic to the different cheeses in pizza and tomato bases so let's try pasta.

Coffee or Tea

Tea. Coffee makes me nauseous.

Coke or Pepsi

Neither. Berry juice please.

YA or Adult

Either, depending on the story or writer.

Knives or Guns

Knives becuase it's an essential kitchen utensil.

Reading or Writing

Writing. No explanation necessary

Facebook or Twitter

Facebook because it's so much easier to stalk authors on FB.
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Sheritha is thirty-something South African writer. She lives on the Kwa-Zulu Natal North Coast where winter is almost nonexistent. She has been writing since the age of twelve and often spaced out during math and biology while dreaming up new plots for her many romance novels. Sheritha shares her home with her family and two canines.

Her publishing credits include:
Cherish–Lycaon Press www.lycaonpress.com
"Witch Apprentice"–Crimson Volume 2 Anthology short story–writing as Lace Higgins. www.breathlesspress.com
"Moving In" Book #1 in the Moving Series–writing as Sheritha Singh, available at www.breathlesspress.com

Find Sheritha and her books
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The Spanish Billionaire's Baby Promise
Buy Link
 Rosa hasn't forgotten her childhood sweetheart, Rio Alejandro, even though he left her ten years ago to build his business empire. Now she's back in his life for one short week—not for his money, but to fall pregnant with his baby. 

Rosa deceives her childhood sweetheart Rio into allowing her to spend a night with him so that she can seduce him and fall pregnant with his baby. 

Her plan seems fine on paper. However, Rosa had not counted on her long-dormant emotions getting in the way. Once she's in Rio's company, memories of the love they'd once shared haunt her—only Rio doesn't recall a thing. The closer Rosa gets to Rio, the harder she finds it to trick him into fathering her baby.
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Tour Wide


Happy 5th Birthday Breathless Press!!
In August, Breathless Press is turning 5!  To celebrate we are releasing a limited edition Hardcover collection of our special birthday Wonderland Tales and to make sure that you're able to indulge in a little birthday fun, we are also having a month long 50% off sale across our site (www.breathlesspress.com).
Wonderland Tales HC Buy Link


1st Prize: 1 x Limited Edition Hardcover copy of our birthda Wonderland Tales, a $20 Amazon GC and a $5 Breathless Press GC.


2nd Prize: Paperback print edition of our birthday Wonderland Tales, a $10 Amazon GC and a $5 Breathless Press GC


3rd Prize: A paperback print edition of our birthday Wonderland Tales, a $5 Amazon GC and a $3 Breathless Press GC

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Guest Blog & Giveaway: Accidentally ... Over? by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff


Top 5 books you think Ashli would have on her bookshelf
 
1.  A book on photography

2.  A book of healing meditations

3.  Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

4.  The Devil Wears Plaid by Teresa Medeiros

5.  The Divine Comedy
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Before taking up a permanent residence in the San Francisco Bay Area, Mimi spent time living near NYC (became a shopaholic), in Mexico City (developed a taste for very spicy food), and Arizona (now hates jumping chollas, but pines for sherbet sunsets). Her love of pre-Hispanic culture, big cities, and romance inspires her to write when she's not busy with kids, hubby, work, and life...or getting sucked into a juicy novel.

She hopes that someday leather pants for men will make a big comeback and that her writing might make you laugh when you need it most.

Find Mimi and her books
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Accidentally ... Over?
Accidentally Yours #5
When it comes to Máax, the God of Truth who refuses to follow the rules, there's more to him than meets the eye. Literally. Because Maáx is invisible! Which is probably why, after seventy-thousand years, he's still unable to find a mate.

Ashli Rosewood was never meant to die. In fact, her death might be the very reason the gods are now faced with stopping that pesky doomsday right around the corner. If only there was a way to undo the past.

Cue Máax. Seven feet of divine masculinity and the unruly god charged with saving Ashli. With a little help from an ancient Mayan tablet, Máax will travel back in time and set things right.

Easy, right?

Wrong.

Because Máax has one teensy challenge. He's invisible. And every time this impatient, powerful deity gets anywhere near Ashli, he spooks her right into harm's way. Meaning...she dies, and he has to start all over again.

Cliff, banana peel, runaway storage container filled with Belgian chocolates, bee sting, the list goes on and on. Does the Universe have it out for this girl? Sure seems that way. But why? And what will Máax do when he begins to suspect that not only is Ashli the key to stopping the apocalypse, but she may be "the one" he's been waiting seventy-thousand years for.

How will he save the one woman the Universe insists on killing and who wants nothing to do with him?
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Máax stared down at the hysterical, screaming woman. He was about to offer a few calming words, such as “Shut the hell up,” but then something peculiar happened.

What the fuu . . . ? He stumbled to the side but caught himself. He’d never experienced anything so unusual, so potent. But what was it? It didn’t hurt. No, quite the opposite. It felt like a sack of fucking wonderful dropped on his head.

Máax looked at the woman once more, and it hit him again.

Click.
 
He gasped. She was doing this to him? How? There was no logical explanation, other than . . .

He lost his train of thought. Gods, she is magnificent.
 
Holy Christ! He stepped back and stared at Ashli. Is that . . . Am I . . . ? He was drooling! Like a hungry dog!

The odd, euphoric sensation hit him again, nearly tumbling him over. Nothing in his seventy thousand years of existence could help him articulate the sensation. It was as if the damned woman had jumped inside his body, soldered herself to every molecule of his light, and then sucked away any rational thought. The hollow pit in his chest, one he hadn’t known existed, felt instantly placated. That spot now felt warm and mushy. The center of gravity shifted from beneath his feet toward the direction of the woman and began pulling him to her like a shooting star.

Oh, shit. She’s my mate? He took two more steps back. No. No. Hell no! But how? And why now? He’d never asked the Universe for a mate. He didn’t want this. He didn’t want to be tethered to some . . . some weak mortal woman, or any woman for that matter. Where was the godsdamned logic in that? For fuck sake, he was a lone wolf—answered to no one and nothing. And he was invisible,
went where he liked when he liked. (For the time being, anyway.) After he went on trial for his recent multitude of offenses, he’d be entombed for a very, very, very . . . yes, very fucking long time! And now this, this . . . woman had messed it all up! Filii canis! Now he was truly going to suffer. He’d have something to miss!

Then another truth dawned on him. Cimil set me up! Again! He was going to kill her. And, gods fucking dammit, did the woman—this, this, Ashli—have to be so godsdamned hot?

Infernum. Her beauty was beyond that of any deity. Dark golden-brown skin, hair like black-licorice ribbons wild about her face and trailing down her back, and exotic eyes, turning up in the corners like a feline’s. And her lips . . . Her lips were plump and full, just the sort a man longs to feel sliding over every inch of his—

Get a hold of yourself, man! But holy saints she was hot. What was he going to do?

Why don’t you start by saving her, asshole?
 
Right. First things first, though; he had to get her to stop screaming. “Ashli, I command you to stop screaming.”

Her beautiful hazel eyes widened, and she bolted toward the dusty, narrow road that ran along the beachfront.

Sanguine ad infernum! She’s running away? “Ashli, I command you to stop. I won’t hurt—”

A large silver bus came out of nowhere. “No!”
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Tour Wide
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Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Guest Blog & Giveaway Night Unbound by Dianne Duvall



New York Times and USA Today Best Selling Author, Dianne Duvall, returns with the much-anticipated 5th book in her paranormal romance Immortal Guardians series, NIGHT UNBOUND!  

Top 5 Favorite Things You’ll Find in NIGHT UNBOUND

Thank you so much for joining me! I’m here today to celebrate the upcoming release of NIGHT UNBOUND, Immortal Guardians Book 5, which will be released on September 2nd. Love paranormal romance that’s dark and intense with humor thrown in? Then my Immortal Guardians series is for you! Whether this is your first time hearing of it, or you’re a fan of the series, I thought I would share with you my Top 5 Favorite Things You’ll Find within the pages of NIGHT UNBOUND.

1. A powerful, irresistible hero. Zach has always been a very mysterious, formidable figure in the series. Tall, dark, with fascinating wings and a nature that could alternately be sardonic or kind, he remained in the background, for the most part, until he accepted a lollipop from Ami (perhaps the most vulnerable character in the series) and made me sit up, take notice, and want to tell his story. Zach is exceedingly powerful. Powerful enough to kill a man with a thought. And, like most of the men in my series, he admires strong women. Lisette’s strength, in fact, is what initially draws him to her. He’s intelligent. Protective. Though he has been deemed a traitor, he is honorable and will do anything he has to in order to protect Lisette from coming to harm. Zach can utterly terrify his enemies one moment, then turn around and laugh and tease and indulge in affectionate moments with Lisette the next. He’s definitely a keeper.

2. A heroine, who routinely kicks butt. If you’ve chatted with me online or joined me on previous blog tours, then you know that I’m a huge lover of horror films, but have had my fill of female protagonists who trip over their own feet, then just lie there, whimpering or screaming, as the villain slowly approaches. Lisette d’Alençon is the total opposite of this. Lisette has spent nearly every night of the past two centuries, hunting and slaying psychotic vampires. (That’s right—vampires are the bad guys in my series.) And she has courageously held her own in battle against even more formidable enemies when the odds were stacked against her. One of the first times she and Zach spoke, actually, was after she was lured into a battle she couldn’t win against human mercenaries and had resolved simply to take as many with her as she could when she died. Perhaps the only thing Lisette truly fears is punishment by the formidable leader of the Immortal Guardians. But she is even willing to risk Seth’s wrath to know more of Zach, who has intrigued her from the first moment she saw him.

3. Awesome action scenes. I’m talking action scenes that will keep you flipping pages even when you know you shouldn’t because you have to get up early the next morning. I like to describe them as Michael Bay action scenes. :-) And they often contain a surprise or two. Zach once issued the following warning to Seth, the leader of the Immortal Guardians:

“You’re battling a mythological beast there.”

Seth shook his head. “I don’t know what you’re—”

“Hydra,” Zach clarified. “You’re fighting the Lernaean Hydra.”

“The Greek mythological creature Hercules was sent to slay that had all the heads?”

Zach nodded shortly. “Cut off one head and it grows two more.”

The Immortal Guardians’ world is becoming increasingly more complicated, each enemy more dangerous than the last. Battles that used to be routine can now reach epic proportions and threaten the existence of any who engage in them. I can’t say much about the battle scenes you’ll find in NIGHT UNBOUND without issuing spoilers, so I’ll just tell you that—in past books—battle scenes have ranged from hand to hand combat with blades to massive battles that included Black Hawk helicopters, Sisu XA-180 armored personnel carriers, machine guns, napalm, tow missiles, flame throwers, and more.

4. Humor. One of my favorite things to hear from readers is that my books made them laugh out loud or that they’re enjoying the humorous banter my characters share. Humor has always been a big part of my life, so it naturally managed to find its way into my series. NIGHT UNBOUND definitely has some dark and intense scenes. But my Immortal Guardians and the humans who aid them are like one big family. They laugh and tease and razz each other as siblings do. Sometimes they say the most outrageous things. *cough* Sheldon *cough* And you’ll find the same in NIGHT UNBOUND. Though the stakes are higher than ever, the humor persists. :-)

5. Romance. I adore a good romance. That first shared look. (Even though Lisette and Zach first locked eyes in DARKNESS RISES, when Lisette captured him and chained him up with a little help from her immortal friends, I thought it was romantic.) The first touch. The immediate physical attraction. The breathless anticipation each time the hero and heroine see each other. The wanting to know more of each other. The budding friendship that swiftly blossoms into love despite fears that it can only lead to disaster. The passion that can no longer be denied. The willingness to risk all to be with each other . . . Lisette has waited over two hundred years to fall in love again. Zach has waited thousands. Nothing will keep these two apart.



Title: Night Unbound 
Series: Immortal Guardians #5
Author: Dianne Duvall
Format: eBook/Mass Market Paperback, 432 pages
Publication: September 2nd 2014 by Zebra
ISBN: 1420129805
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Praise for the Immortal Guardians series:
"Duvall is a major player." --RT Book Reviews
"The Immortal Guardians series is one you'll want to follow." --The Romance Review
"These dark, kick-ass guardians can protect me any day!" --Alexandra Ivy on Darkness Dawns
"Whizzing along at light speed. . .this sophomore effort sizzles." --Publishers Weekly on Night Reigns
Dianne Duvall's Immortal Guardians protect humanity from unspeakable horrors--but their hearts are as fragile as any mortal's. . .

For centuries, Lisette d'Alençon has been a warrior against the dark. She fights alongside her brothers and comrades. But when the dreams start coming, she can't bear to confess them to the Immortal Guardians' command. Dreams of a dark-haired man with soft eyes and brutal wounds, a man her heart aches for--and a man she knows has been declared a traitor.

Zach is an exile, a loner. He won't defend himself against false accusations or grovel to those who should have faith in him. But he'll damn sure defend the woman who kept him sane against a plague of super-vamps that seems to have appeared from nowhere. The Guardians will blame him, and that will make Lisette suspect, too. With life, death and eternity on the line, who can they really trust?






New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Dianne Duvall earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of St. Thomas, where she studied fiction writing, playwriting, and poetry writing. Darkness Dawns, the first book in her Immortal Guardians paranormal romance series, was nominated for the RT Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance by RT Book Reviews and for Best Paranormal Romance - Vampire by The Romance Reviews. It was also deemed a Top Pick by The Romance Reviews and a Best Book by Long and Short Reviews. Night Reigns, the second book in the series, was nominated for Best Best Book of 2011 - Paranormal Romance by The Romance Reviews and declared an “utterly addictive” Top Pick by RT Book Reviews. Phantom Shadows, the third book in the series, has been declared a Top Pick by both The Romance Reviews and Night Owl Reviews. Her Immortal Guardians novella In Still Darkness was released in the Predatory anthology on May 7, 2013, and has received many fabulous reviews. Darkness Rises, the fourth book in the series, hit the USA Today Bestseller list, has been nominated for the RT Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance by RT Book Reviews and was deemed a Night Owl Reviews Top Pick.

Dianne has also completed two not-yet-published paranormal romance novels that are prequels to Darkness Dawns. A Sorceress of His Own is a medieval romance with paranormal elements that won awards in the Lone Star, Where the Magic Begins, Southern Heat, Picture This, Book of Your Heart and Suzannah national writing competitions. Rendezvous With Yesterday is a time travel romance and won second place in the Picture This writing contest.

In addition to writing romance, Dianne has completed a one-act play (comedy) and teamed up with an award-wining screenwriter to write a spec script for a new situation comedy. Several of her poems have also been published in anthologies.

When she isn’t writing, Dianne is very active in the independent film industry and once even appeared on screen as a machete-weilding maniac not unlike the vampires she so loves to create in her novels.



1st Prize – 1 Winner
$25 Amazon Gift Card
2nd Prize – 2 Winners
Autographed copy of DARKNESS RISES, tote bag, and swag
3rd Prize – 3 Winners
Autographed paperback of winner’s choice from backlist + Immortal Guardians Swag Pack
4th Prize – 5 Winners
Immortal Guardians Swag Pack
a Rafflecopter giveaway



Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Review: Betting on Julia by Nina Croft

Betting on Julia
Author: Nina Croft
Release Date: August 25, 2014
Publisher: Entangled: Covet
ISBN:  1622665953
ISBN13: 9781622665952
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review Copy Source:Publisher
Small, blonde, bubbly, and with a penchant for all things pink, Julia Melville has always considered herself a nice girl – until she was attacked by a werewolf. Months later, and still in total denial, Julia spends the time between full moons fantasizing that her life is normal. And who could be better to help her with that than her new neighbor, handsome accountant, Sebastian Crane.

For two hundred years, Sebastian, a powerful warlock, has been possessed by a demon. Each day, his soul grows darker, and he knows that soon he will be beyond salvation. But the demon loves to gamble, and he’s made Bastian one final bet—get a good woman to say the words “I love you” and he’ll be free.

Julia wants a normal guy. Bastian needs a good woman. Maybe together they can find something far more valuable…redemption.

*Slight spoilers from OPERATION SAVING DANIEL*

BETTING ON JULIA is the second book in the Melville Sisters series. We originally meet Julia in OPERATION SAVING DANIEL (You MUST read it if you haven't yet.) She is Daniel's sister and Melissa's best friend. She was turned into a werewolf at the end of book 1 when she was kidnapped by Daniel's enemies.

Julia didn't know about the paranormal until she was infected and she wants nothing to do with what she has become. Sebastian is a warlock possessed with a demon. He let the demon in during a low point in his life and would love to get rid of him. His chance comes when his demon makes him a deal that brings him to Julia's door. Although there relationship is based on lies from both sided they are pretty hot and heavy and fall for each other rather quickly. As the truth comes out they have to decide what's most important to them or lose the other forever.

It was great visiting with the previous characters from this series. I'm not sure which characters might be featured in book 3 but since the series is titled 'Melville sisters' I have to assume another sister will be thrown into learning about the paranormal. There has not been a book written by Nina Croft that I have not enjoyed. She has a great way with words and her stories are really easy to fall into. If your looking for werewolves and romance this series just might be for you.

I gave it 4/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

New Releases: 8/24-8/30


Mon Aug. 25th


Tue Aug. 26th

 The Aftermath by Jen Alexander
 Don't Let Go (PERSEFoNE #3) by Michelle Gagnon 
 Evernight (Darkest London #5) by Kristen Callihan
 Feral by Holly Schindler
 The Hot Zone (Rainshadow #3) by Jayne Castle 
 Sanctum (Asylum #2) by Madeleine Roux
 Unborn (Unborn #1) by Amber Lynn Natusch

Happy Reading!

Monday, August 25, 2014

Review: His Secret Superheroine by Patricia Eimer

His Secret Superheroine
Release Date: August 25, 2014
Publisher: Entangled: Covet
ISBN:   1622665961
ISBN13: 9781622665969
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review Copy Source: Publisher
All kindergarten teacher Peyton Pearson wants is a nice, quiet life. Unfortunately, quiet isn't something she's had a lot of after tainted medicine turns her into a superhero. She's single, and saving the city from criminals—which is increasingly dangerous as the anti-superhero movement in St. Louis gains traction. Then there's her hot next door neighbor who makes her think super-dirty thoughts, and has no idea who she really is.

Police officer Dylan Wilson is trying to make the world safe by working to unmask all superheroes. When his sexy neighbor, Peyton, is evicted, Dylan offers her his spare room, unknowingly opening his home—and his heart—to the city's most reluctant superhero.

Can love survive when the masks come off?

Peyton's just trying to live a normal and quiet life. Unfortunately normal and quiet was shoved out the window when her ex-husband switched out her birth control pills with a medication that made her into a superhero just like him. Now divorced all she wants to do is teach her students, and pine after the handsome police officer across the street while staying under the radar. When she is evicted, her sexy neighbor Dylan offers up his spare room, only problem is he doesn't like superheros and has no idea she's really Fantastigirl in hiding.

As you can imagine the romance between Peyton and Dylan is anything but smooth. The secret is out pretty early on in the book which is good but a lot of hurt comes out of it on both sides. There were many tissue needing moment so be prepared. I really enjoyed the relationship between Peyton and Dylan's Daughter. She is pretty much the mother figure to this little girl since her mother is a drunk B and it was great to see the feelings develop between the two.

I enjoyed all the secondary characters and the storyline. HIS SECRET SUPERHEROINE was a great start to the St. Louis Superheroes series. I am definitely going to look for book two. If you haven't already read it, Patricia's Speak of the Devil Series was very enjoyable as well and since it has already ended you won't have to wait for a new release!

I gave it 4/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Week in Review: 8/17-8/23


Books I've Bought/received

- A Secret to Die For by Sierra Dean- eARC- Author

- A Cursed Bloodline by Cecy Robson - eARC- Netgalley

- Unborn by Amber Lynn Natusch- eARC- NetGalley

Books I've Read

House Immortal by Devon Monk
The Winter Long by Seanan McGuire
Veiled Threat by Shannon Mayer
Tracker by Shannon Mayer
Blind Ravage by Shannon Mayer

Reviews Posted

Tempting Fate by April White
Time of Death: Induction by Shana Festa
Ante Up: Sin City Collectors Novella by Amanda Carlson

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

* Monday- Guest Blog & Giveaway for Forget Me Not by Shawn Martin; Cover Reveal & Giveaway for The Day Human King by B. Kristin McMichael

* Tuesday- Release Day Blast for Flight From Hell by Yasmine Galenorn

* Wednesday- Interview & Giveaway for I'll Call You Alice by Ivy Bateman

* Thursday- Release Day Blast & Giveaway for Shadows Awakening by Molle McGregor

* Friday- Guest Blog & Giveaway for Saving the Hero by Sabrina Sumsion 

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* Did you know you can follow UFI on these other sites?

You can also add me (as in Stacy) to your friends on these sites if you're on them.
 
 * I love comments so if you see something you like (or not) please comment away and let me know.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Review: Tempting Fate by April White




Tempting Fate
Author: April White
Release Date: June 28, 2014
Publisher: Corazon Entertainment
ISBN13: 9780988536807
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Author


Seventeen-year-old Clocker, Saira Elian is back on the run and being hunted by Mongers. The Descendants of War are amassing power in the 21st century, bent on controlling all the Immortal Descendants. Their attempt to kidnap Saira, a rare Descendant of Time and Nature, reveals just how brazen they’ve become. Archer, the vampire who has loved Saira for over a century, is willing to risk everything to protect her.

When a horrific vision reveals Ringo, thief and loyal companion from 1888, being tortured at the hands of the bloodthirsty Bishop Wilder in a Renaissance prison, Saira and Archer realize there has been a ripple in the river of Time, and they must travel to 1554 to find its source and save their friend. Their rescue mission lures them to the Tower of London, site of the most notorious executions in history, where they encounter the mysterious Lady Elizabeth who is confronting a terrible fate of her own.

The time-traveler, the vampire, and the thief will need all of their skills and ingenuity as they race against time to steal a document that could change the course of history and put the Immortal Descendants at the mercy of the Mongers. Can they stop a madman bent on collecting the blood of history’s most powerful Seer before the executioner’s axe falls?



I love this series, LOVE it. The characters, the time travel (which I usually don't like), the storyline... It just rocks! It has been a long wait but TEMPTING FATE was so worth it.

It doesn't take long for the action to start. In fact the books open up with Saira running through the woods from danger, getting your heart pumping with a nice pace and the pace doesn't slow down until the book is over. The blurb does a really fantastic job of explaining what book 2 was about. I really loved that all of our favorite characters are involved at some point. Ringo is a pretty important part of the group and I couldn't imagine him not being involved. The world building that goes into a series like this is pretty extensive and April does such a good job of making it easy to understand. I had no problem picturing myself in the book at any point. So much happens in TEMPTING FATE and I don't want to give anything away, but know that no one is left unchanged in some way by the end.

The relationship between Saira and Archer isn't easy. Archer has loved Saira for a really long time while Saira has only loved him for a short amount compared. Archer gives Saira her space to figure things out but it takes something drastic for her to finally realize she can't live without him and even after that she has to find a way to let him into her life and stop doing everything on her own. Their relationship is pretty strong by the end of TEMPTING FATE and I admit it is one of my favorite parts of the series.

All that I wanted when TEMPTING FATE ended was to read more. April PLEASE don't make us wait as long as we did for book 2, I need more.

I gave it 5/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Friday, August 22, 2014

Guest Blog & Giveaway: Saving the Hero by Sabrina Sumsion

UFI welcomes Sabrina Sumsion Author of Saving the Hero. Thanks for Joining us!!

Top Six Tips to Survive a Vampire Attack 

Kassy here. Mike recommended that I write a list of tips to survive a vampire attack. He probably thinks it will be cathartic for me to write down what I’ve learned or something. I’m not sold on the idea, but Uncle Mark kept a journal, so who am I to judge?

1. Bring the right weapon -Sure, the popular mythology says to carry a stake because vampires can only be killed by jamming wood in their hearts. The vampires want you to think that because they have a constant adrenalin rushing making them stronger than you or I. Don’t engage in hand-to-hand combat if at all possible. Get your concealed carry permit. You can claim self defense if you shoot them –and you’re telling the truth.

2. Avoiding an attack is the best way to survive an attack -Do not walk down alleys alone at night. I mean, really. Who does that? It’s not safe. You’ve seen a million movies where the victim gets whacked in some dark place because they decided to go alone. If at all possible, have someone with you and travel during the day.

3. Keep your loved ones close -If your loved one starts acting funny, watch them closely. Do they ask for a rare steak when they usually like medium? Do they sniff the air as you and others walk past? Any wild looks in their eye? This is especially important if they were bitten or exposed to someone else’s blood or saliva in any way. Keep an eye on your loved ones. If we’d known what to look for, maybe my life would have been different. I could have been an ignorant bystander like most people.

4. Using restraint is the best policy –Do you own handcuffs and chains? If not, go buy some. You never know when someone you know will go off the deep end as the parasite gains more control.

5. Run loud –Always run away if possible. Yeah, if it’s a vampire he or she will be faster than you, but if you’re screaming your head off, there’s a chance that your attacker will decide to find an easier and quieter prey. I’d give it a 50/50 chance with this tactic. Really, the hunger of the leech will dictate whether they give chase or not.

6. Stay away from the teeth –If there’s anything you can do that will help keep the vampire’s teeth off you, do it. Once you’re bit, it’s over for you. You turn into a blood-sucker and wait for a Guard to find you and take you out, end things yourself, or chain yourself for 30 days and let the parasite kill you. None of those are great options.

Well, there are six things. I hope whoever reads this isn’t looking for bright and cheery news. This is the world you live in whether you know it or not.

Kassandra McDougal
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I’m a ninja disguised as a homeschooling mom, former literary publicist, craft-aholic and all around reading diva. Really, I kick down doors –no, wait, that was my husband when I locked us out of the house . . . Well, I engage in combat on a regular basis –online when I play MMORPGs with my children . . . OK, maybe I’m not a real ninja but my husband says I stole his heart. Does that count?

No? Shoot. Well, I love reading and I love writing. I think imagination is the biggest advantage a child can get in life and I try to allow my children many opportunities to expand theirs every day.

I love teaching authors how to avoid publishing traps and scams as well as how to market themselves and their works. There is nothing better in life than giving someone information that helps them become successful.

I also take a few hours each week and create jewelry, make lotions or paint something. I have little creation stations scattered through the house. My daughter gets into it a lot and scatters things which drives my husband crazy but remember how I mentioned that he says I stole his heart? Yeah. I’m not giving it back. He’s stuck with me forever. Bwah ha ha ha!

Find Susan and her books
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Saving the Hero
Saving the Hero #1
 Two and a half weeks. That’s all the time he has left.

When loner vampire hunter Kassy is interrupted by nosy veteran, Mike, he ends up bitten, and infected with the vampire parasite. The warrior becomes her prey as she fights to find him before powerful vamps. A couple kidnappings later, she’s hiding in a cabin with him chained to the floor, and an eight-year-old girl in her care.

Death? Inevitable. When the parasite takes control, he’ll do or say anything to get non-infected blood—including seducing her. But, as they spend time together, she finds her resolve weakening. A kiss won’t fix him, but it might mend a deep hole in her heart.

Kassy is too practical to believe in miracles, but if he survives eighteen days without ingesting human blood, there is a chance he could be the hero she's been looking for.

Odds are, he’s a dead man.
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US ONLY


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Thursday, August 21, 2014

Release Day Blast & Giveaway: Shadows Awakening by Molle McGregor

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Shadow's Awakening
by Molle McGregor
Publication Date: August 21, 2014
Genres: Paranormal, Romance
Purchase from: AmazonNookKoboiBooks • 

Tour: Shadow’s Awakening by Molle McGregor

Synopsis

Hannah Green wants her life back. In the past three years she’s gone from promising graduate student to patient in a mental hospital. Now, she’s being held prisoner by a terrifying group of men who believe she has a mysterious power. She wants to think they’re wrong, but something inside her has changed. If only she could use her p0wer to set herself free.

Conner’s entire life, he’s played by the rules. He’s a soldier. A leader. He knows better than anyone that contact with the Shadows is forbidden. So when a midnight phone call demands he rescue one from a nest of demons, he has no intention of following through. Until he sets eyes on Hannah. Brave, beautiful and determined to survive. Conner can’t walk away.

When you’ve worked so hard to make the right choices, temptation can be a kind of torture. Conner knows he should turn Hannah over to the Shadows. Hannah wants to be grateful for her rescue and let Conner go. But when love and desire bind two strangers together, they have to choose between what they think is right and what they know they need.

Also in the Series

 

About Molle McGregor

HeadshotRevised2-150x150Molle’s writing career started when she was seven and suffered terrible insomnia. Night after night she couldn’t sleep until long after mid-night, only to wake a few hours later. Frustrated with her inability to just go to bed, (and her penchant for sneaking a book and a flashlight under the covers) her grandmother said, “You like to read so much, why don’t you tell yourself a story until you fall asleep.” With this brilliant advice, Molle’s overactive brain was off and running. Now, years later, she’s finally taught herself to sleep, but she’s never stopped telling stories.
When she’s not reading, writing, or staring into space making things up, Molle is getting into trouble with her husband, two sons, two dogs and vicious attack cat in the mountains of North Carolina. She likes to hike, cook, listen to music way too loud, and hang out with her boys. She does not like dusting or emptying the dishwasher.