Release Day Blitz and Giveaway: Without Mercy by Belinda Boring

I was so excited when I received an email from Belinda Boring about her newly published novelette, Without Mercy. I have gotten to know Belinda over the year through her blog, The Bookish Snob, and her book promotion site, The Bookish Snob Promotions. Her email asked if I wanted to be part of a blitz and giveaway for her first published work and I said without a doubt I wanted to be part of it!! Congrats Belinda!! Information for the giveaway is below and the other stops of the tour can be found HERE. And now for a bit about the book and Belinda...:D

Without Mercy

by Belinda Boring

Available Now

Without Mercy Blurb:

What would you do if a simple errand takes a deadly twist, turning you from cautious prey to dangerous predator?

When Darcy’s outing takes a turn for the worst and tests her to the point of breaking, she struggles to maintain her humanity. Where loyalty and pack mean everything, she surrenders to the inevitable and only an act of complete trust can touch her. When all is said and done, with memories flooding her mind, Darcy holds tightly to the only thing that makes sense – it was all a dream. Or was it?

PURCHASE WITHOUT MERCY

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Author Bio:

A homesick Aussie living amongst the cactus and mountains of Arizona, Belinda Boring is a self proclaimed addict of romance and all things swoon worthy. When she's not devouring her latest read, you can find her celebrating her passion for book on her blog The Bookish Snob.

With all that excitement, it wasn't long before she began writing, pouring her imagination and creativity into the stories she dreams. Whether urban fantasy, paranormal romance or romance in general, Belinda strives to share great plots with heart and characters that you can't help but connect with. Of course, she wouldn't be Belinda without adding heroes she hopes will curl your toes.

Surrounded by a supportive cast of family, friends and the man she gives her heart and soul to, Belinda is living the good life. Happy reading!

GIVEAWAY

Belinda is offering an e-copy of Without Mercy to TWO winners! Please read over my CONTEST POLICY. 

I am trying a new format and will use Rafflecopter. Let me know if you like it or should I go back using Google Docs! 

ARC Review: By His Majesty's Grace by Jennifer Blake

By His Majesty's Grace by Jennifer Blake

The Three Graces, Book 1

Published July 2011 by Mira

Format: e-ARC

Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Challenge Met: Historical Romance

Isabel Milton has met her match in Sir Randall Braesford. The curse of The Three Graces of Graydon is not going to save her this time. Even though the previous five attempts on marrying her off has failed with disease, accident or warfare, Braesford fears nothing. On the day of their nuptials, unfortunately, Braesford’s half-brother William McConnell shows up to arrest him on the charge of murder of Juliette d’Amboise’s, Henry VII’s mistress, baby girl. Braesford knows that the charges are false and most likely a set-up on behalf of his half-brother who is jealous of him and upset that Henry VIII awarded his lands to Braesford.

After returning to London, Henry VIII still insists that the marriage happen. Isabel has no choice and is wedded and bedded before she knows it. At first she is opposed to all of it but as time goes on she finds that she does love this big brute. Now she needs to clear his name for her sake and his head because now the charges have changed to not only the death of the child but also the deather of Juliette. Isabel’s main suspects are her step-brother, Earl of Graydon, and Braesford’s half-brother, William McConnell. But to prove it she will have to be brave and try to get in the good graces of Margaret Beaufort, King Henry VII’s mother.

Blake does a wonderful job with making us feel like we are right there in the action but at times it was too much. I found myself skimming over a lot of the descriptions trying to get the heart of the story. All in all a good romance read but not one that I would say is a must read.

RATING

PURCHASE BY HIS MAJESTY'S GRACE
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Teaser Tuesday: Touch of Frost

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two "teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page!

In honor of the release of Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep (YAY) today here is "tease" from it since I won't have my review up until later..:D This is one series you won't want to miss!!

"Of course we aren't," I said, "I could never, ever be friends with a rich, spoiled wannabe Valkyrie princess like you. But since you're one of the few people at the academy who will actually speak to me, you've been elected. Now hurry up, Logan's trapped. He may be hurt, too. I don't know."~pg. 140 (from e-ARC)

ARC Review: Sacred Evil by Heather Graham

Sacred Evil
Krewe of Hunters, Book 3
by Heather Graham
Available Tomorrow (July 26)
Published by Mira
Format: e-ARC
Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Has Jack the Ripper risen from the grave and continued his reign of terror but this time instead of the East End of London it is the East End of New York. Or has someone researched very meticulously and is now exacting his carefully laid plans to strike fear into the hearts of woman and show the NYPD what fools they are.

Jude Crosby, detective for the NYPD, is baffled by the latest murders and knows they need help solving this case. They seem to be linked and they don’t. The only thing in common right now that he can see is that it is all centering around the myth that Jack the Ripper came to America and reincarnated himself into a man named Jonathan Black and became head of the House of Spiritualism, a satanic church, continuing his murder spree. The director of the movie O’Leary believes that because they were filming on the site of the House of Spiritualism it has awakened the spirit of Jack the Ripper.

Whitney Tremont is the first of the Krewe of Hunters to arrive. She is set up in the historic Blair House right next door to where the House of Spiritualism once stood and is partnered with Jude Crosby to help in this investigation. Her background in film helps her with the questioning of the movie crew and her other talents lead to clues that no other investigator would know. 

The murders are escalating and every detail is so exact that the killer or killers somehow have inside information and skills that exceed all others. At times it seems that it could very well be someone close to them and Whitney could very well fit the profile of the Ripper’s last victim. 

Jude and Whitney’s affiliation starts out shaky but grows into respect and blossoms into love for each other. Among this budding relationship, New York is under siege from a madman (or ghost?) and the Krewe of Hunters must use all their skills before one of their own is found mutilated like the Ripper’s last victim.

Sacred Evil has the history blended with romance and a good ghost story that I love. The third installment of Ms. Graham’s Krewe of Hunters series is even better than the first two. At this rate I am guessing that The Evil Inside should be a very intriguing fourth installment of this extraordinary series. 

RATING

PURCHASE SACRED EVIL

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PURCHASE HEART OF EVIL

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PURCHASE PHANTOM EVIL

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Promo: Dark Territory by J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel

Dark Territory, The Tracks Book 1

by J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel

From Press Pack (provided by Kim Weiss)

In the quaint town of Middleburg, an abandoned train yard and old railroad tracks form the dividing line between two rival gangs - the wealthy, preppy Toppers and the working-class Flatliners. When Raphael, the leader of the Flatliners, falls in love with Aimee, a Topper girl, the rival gangs prepare to do battle...but not with guns and knives. Their martial arts training dictates a strict code of honor, which all of the gang members adhere to. The only hope for peace between the rival gangs lies within the giant X formed where the railroad tracks cross. The awesome power contained in the X sends the Flatliners and the Toppers on a mystical quest to fight against malevolent forces that threaten the existence of Middleburg - and maybe the world.

Introducing Dark Territory (HCI Books-$9.95), an adventure of star-crossed love, kung fu, and magic and the first book in The Tracks series. Written by J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel, the series was conceived originally as a movie treatment after the two met on Craig's list when Keel answered an ad from Gates: "young author seeks mentor." Six years after collaborating on their movie idea, Keel suggested that it would make a good teen series and The Tracks was born.

Gates remarks about the book, "...the world the story takes place in is sort of a post-industrial, rust-belt place where the middle class is being marginalized until there really is no middle class, just the rich and the poor. I think that mirrors some of what's happening in American society, where a lot of good middle-class jobs are disappearing, and there's a lot of unease because of it. I think it's interesting and timely backdrop for a teen novel. After all, there are a lot of teenagers whose parents are laid off right now, or whose friends' parents are laid off. Literature should address that. The book really reflects a post-racial society that's divided along economic rather than racial lines, and it seems to me that that's where we're heading."

As Publisher's Weekly states, "The overall effect [of Dark Territory] is that of a summer action flick, with all the expected over-the-top situations, sequences and dialogue." Welcome, Ignacio, Aimee, Raphael, and Master Chin to the world of young adult fiction.

NOTE: A free app, wallpaper, ring tones, and posters are downloadable at: m.hcibooks.com. Next in The Tracks series is Ghost Crown, available in January 2012.

About the Author (from website)

Author J. Gabriel Gates is a native of Marshall, Michigan. The son of an English teacher, his passion for the written word began at a young age. During college, another passion – for performing – led him to get his B.A. degree in theater from Florida State University. 

During his years in Los Angeles, he appeared in a dozen national TV commercials and penned several screenplays while laying the groundwork for his career as a novelist. 

His first two novels are Dark Territory: The Tracks, book 1, which is scheduled for release July 1st, and The Sleepwalkers, coming October 3rd, both from HCI Books. 

He currently lives in Southwest Michigan.

 

PURCHASE DARK TERRITORY

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Review: Bloodfever by Karie Marie Moning

Bloodfever
by Karen Marie Moning
Series: Fever, Book 2
Publisher: Dell
Available Now
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased

Bloodfever is the second installment of the Fever series. I have not included any spoilers but there might be a few from the first installment, Darkfever.

The Lord Master is freeing the darkest enemies imaginable. He is letting them roam free among humanity. MacKayla can see these creatures and with Jericho Barrons help they must discover how to close the portal. Since the first installment of the Fever series, MacKayla has grown and matured a lot. She is still coping with the death of her sister but that only fuels her passion for stopping the Lord Master. We still see a glimpse of the old MacKayla with her dreams of having a normal life with lots of pretty rainbows but now she has some harsher edges which helps her in the end.

Jericho and MacKayla are still hunting for Fae artifacts. She has started to get use to Jericho’s way of working but at times she still is very frustrated. The pull between the two of them is very palpable and we are always on the edge wondering if they will take the next step with each other. MacKayla comes upon others that are like her and now she sees that she has other options then Jericho. Seeds of doubt are placed in her mind from both sides leaving her conflicted. Should she continue her allegiance to Jericho or set out on a new path to learn more of what powers she possesses.

Another blow against MacKayla, she has learned that her sister’s ex-boyfriend and murderer, Malluce, is still alive (or as alive as one could be in his state). He is out for revenge and he is not going to hold back. And if that isn’t enough, V’lane the Fae prince is still coming to her in all is sexual glory. 

Once again Moning has created a fast-paced gripping read. The reader is wrapped up in MacKayla’s life and near death and when Bloodfever ends our fingers tingle to pick up the next installment, Faefever, with feverish anticipation.

RATING

PURCHASE BLOODFEVER

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PURCHASE DARKFEVER

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