Spin the Dawn

{The Blood of Stars #1}

by Elizabeth Lim

Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books

Release date July 9, 2019

Pages: 416

Ya Fantasy

#ya fantasy # magical

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

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This book was received as an ARC from NetGalley,in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own

This story follows Maia Tamarin, a girl with aspirations to be a tailor, but because she was born female all she can hope for is to make a good match in marriage. However, when her father, a renowned tailor in his own right is summoned by the royal court, Maia decides to pose as a boy to save her father from becoming even more ill on the journey. Aware that the penalty of death is imposed for her actions, she’s determined to overcome the hardships to become the best tailor. Except she’s one of twelve tailors eyeing the coveted position. Despite her skills, she becomes caught up in the schemes of saboteur tailors and is saved by the royal court magician Edan, who has seen through her disguise; his motives unclear. Her final challenge is the most difficult: crafting three dresses for the king’s bride-to-be using the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of the stars. Her journey will set her on a path that she never imagined,

Maia Tamarin, has aspirations to be a tailor, in world where women are subservient. Born the only girl in a family of three older brothers, with a Father as Tailor. She sacrifices everything to protect her family. In a turn of events she seizes the opportunity for a one in life time chance to become a Court Tailor. Maia decides to pose as a boy and Travel to court In disguise as her brother .while there she must avoid court intrigue and schemes of saboteur tailors .She must face her final challenge crafting three dresses for the king’s bride-to-be using the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of the stars.

Her journey will set her on a path that she never imagined..

This is one of those books that you just have to read to know what feeling I’m getting at. It sucks you in and keeps you hungry for more until you reach the mind-blowing ending. It’s a unique and unforgettable magical storyline. Masterfully created spellbinding world. I devoured this one as fast as I could and was completely drawn into the lives of these characters.  I turned those pages as fast as I could and then slowly took in this beautifully written page turner.

What I especially liked is Elizabeth Lim imaginative writing style. I feel in love with the overall premise of the novel, and the quick pace it kept me engaged.

I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more books by this author

#book-review #Ya Fantasy#YA Fiction

As Silver Is to the Moon
R. A. Watt
Publication date: April 28th 2019
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

New school. First love. A psychotic werewolf that wanted me dead. And it was only week one in Santa Isadora.

For fifteen-year-old Teavan Laurent and his older sister Suzanne, Santa Isadora seemed like a sleepy and idyllic California town to finish high school after their unexpected move west from New York City.

As he struggles to make friends in a town shrouded in secrets, Teavan soon finds himself the target of an irrational tormentor and rumored-to-be werewolf. The revenge-obsessed psycho vows to wipe out Teavan and his small family due to past wrongs beyond Teavan’s control or knowledge. The twisted legacy left to him by his late grandfather brings Teavan at odds with everything he knows to be true—or at least everything he thought to be true.

The impossible truth of the tale begins to gain traction at his first wolf sighting, and Teavan and Suzanne soon find themselves in the crosshairs of the dark and secretive lycan world of Santa Isadora.

Stalked by a legend that shouldn’t exist, Teavan must decide how far he is willing to go to save those that he loves and come to terms with what lurks from within.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

—

EXCERPT:

The room felt crisp and refreshing as I crawled back into the cozy warmth of my covers. The comforting presence of my dog Honey’s stretched curled form was gone. “Honey”?

Only the sounds of occasional thunder and rain could be heard, along with the violent, howling winds. The big oak tree in the yard was flailing back and forth, looking like it could lose a limb.

“Honey?”

Listening for the familiar sounds of her padded footsteps, I was alarmed when I heard banging on what sounded like the front door. I almost jumped out of bed.

Who could be here, in the middle of a storm, in the middle of the night?

An uneasy feeling slid over me as I made my way to the hall, electing to keep the lights off so I could see out the windows.

Answering the door to our apartment back home at two in the morning usually meant some drunken idiot was at the wrong door and couldn’t get their key to work. But out here, there could be no mistake.

Maybe it was the outer screen door banging in the storm. The gusting winds would most likely rip it off its hinges if it weren’t pulled tightly closed. As I reached out to unlock the bolt, an unmistakable knock came from the other side, sending my heart racing.

Someone was there.

I’m not proud to admit it, but I panicked a little. A bead of sweat trickled down my cheek. Lightning occasionally illuminated the room from the front windows.

Crap.

Maybe someone needed help. Maybe someone was being chased by a wolf. Maybe it was the wolf. Except a wolf couldn’t knock on a door.

But a werewolf could.

I tried to laugh at myself to ease my own tension.

On either side of the big wooden door was a floor-to-ceiling privacy window, with white curtains covering each one. I tried to look through the somewhat transparent lace, but I couldn’t see anything, just blackness outside.

If whoever was there saw my movement, I would have no choice but to open the door.

Chancing it, I ever-so-slightly moved the curtain aside to look out on the porch. I could see nothing until the next flash of lightning lit up the sky.

A wrinkled, elderly woman sat in an antique wooden wheelchair outside our front door. The winds blew her long, white hair in all directions, but she was looking down.

My head snapped back with my heart in my throat. Surely she needed help, but she almost looked scarier than some guy dressed in black. The image of her wheelchair and wild hair flying all about terrified me.

How did she get up the steps, alone, in a wheelchair?

Author Bio:

Ryan is a husband and a father of three children. A lover of food, wine, sunshine, skiing, and fiction.

Although his background is in finance, he has always had a love of books, particularly fiction, since a young age and has been an avid reader ever since. Ryan’s favorite books are deep, engrossing novels that may not necessarily win Pulitzer Prizes, but are difficult to put down.

Reading should be fun, absorbing, and a step away from our ordinary world. No matter what the critics say about the book on your nightstand, if you don’t look forward to reading each night it’s not the right book for you!

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Stranger Rituals
Kali Rose Schmidt
Publication date: July 9th 2019
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult

A fighter with a venomous grudge.
A monster with an immortal curse.
A girl with a terrible gift.

All three out for blood in a land torn apart by harsh gods and holy wars. Each entwined with the other, on their own quests for vengeance, and yet held together by strange links to sinister pasts. As their fates unravel, a dangerous romance blooms, and violent darkness beckons.

At turns both darkly humorous and utterly morbid, STRANGER RITUALS is the startling first novel in Kali Rose Schmidt’s dark new series.

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Author Bio:

Kali Rose Schmidt is an author, mother, and villain lover. She likes bloody tales of monsters, yoga with the lights off, and anything that goes bump in the night.

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BY: STEPHANIE GREY

Justice watches from the shadows…

 

Throughout history, the world has witnessed cruel, gruesome, and twisted murders at the hands of the most notorious serial killers. For those who were never caught—Jack the Ripper, the Atlanta Ripper, and the Cleveland Torso Murderer—their crimes will live on in infamy as their identities are forever chased, but never revealed. 

It’s 1947 in Washington, D.C. and a dangerous murderer has boldly discarded two headless bodies nearby the White House and the Jefferson Memorial. With no leads, Detective Clive O’Reilly is feeling desperate. When a stranger convinces O’Reilly to join him at a local pub, he is treated to a wild tale about Prudence Blackwood, an immortal who seeks vengeance for those murdered by history’s most notorious serial killers. 

Initially in disbelief over her existence, O’Reilly is surprised to discover that she’s very real and she’ll be assisting in the investigation. 

But Prudence has unorthodox methods. With the body count rising, O’Riley will have to find a way to work with her to stop the most brutal killer in D.C.’s history before more victims are added to the list.

 

 

 

DIGITAL ARCS OF THE IMMORTAL PRUDENCE BLACKWOOD:

Book reviewers and bloggers interested in reviewing the book may request a digital ARC of The Immortal Prudence Blackwood. ARCs are available through NetGalley and at the publisher’s website.

 

 

Title: The Immortal Prudence Blackwood

Author: Stephanie Grey

Genre: Suspense 

Publication date: September 12, 2019

Publisher: BHC Press

 

Available Formats: 

Hardcover: 978-1-64397-032-5, $26.95

Softcover: 978-1-947727-83-0, $15.95

Ebook: 978-1-948540-33-9, $7.99

 

LCCN: 2018948482

 

 

 

 

The Immortal Prudence Blackwood releases on September 12, 2019 in hardcover, trade softcover, and ebook. Preorder is currently available from select retailers.

 

 

The Inspiration Behind The Immortal Prudence Blackwood With Author Stephanie Grey

 

 

 

I wish I could say it was a misty and stormy night when the idea for an immortal woman who eliminates the world’s most notorious, unidentified serial killers struck me, and that I had an amazing tale. But the truth isn’t quite so mysterious and exotic. That’s how it normally goes, right? 

It was quite hot outside, which was normal for a March day in Hawaii. It’s difficult to get into a dark frame of mind when the sun is constantly shining and there’s a beautiful, blue ocean view from your window. 

On that particular morning, I was reading the news and stumbled across an article titled, “Rabbit hole leads to incredible 700-year-old Knights Templar cave complex.”

This cave, found underneath a farmer’s field in Shropshire, UK, was concealed by a rabbit hole. The article explained the caves were linked to the Knights Templar, a Catholic military order that was founded in 1119. Over time, the Templars’ military influence faded and, by 1307, the French King Philip IV plotted to bring down the Knights Templar. Most were arrested on charges including heresy and dozens were later burned at the stake. Pope Clement V disbanded them in 1312.

The owners of the property sealed the entrance to the caves in 2012 after black magic ceremonies were conducted there.

Reading this amazing story and seeing the incredible photographs immediately made me think about a woman living in the 1700s discovering an ancient cave covered in glyphs. But…you can’t just have a story about a woman finding a really old cave. Where would she go from there?

For the next few days, I mulled over ideas about this woman’s destiny. I caught a TV show about a man who had a scarf with blood on it and was trying to prove that his ancestor was the real Jack the Ripper. The man’s lead was a bust, but that’s when I knew what the woman would do: she would murder the serial killers whose identities were never discovered, thus evading capture. She would be the reason why the gruesome crimes stopped. 

It didn’t take long for me to narrow down the woman’s name to Prudence Blackwood and write her history. However, it did take a month to research the murderers I wanted to include, as well as the history of each time period featured in the book. The “modern day” portion of the story takes place in 1947, and I am so very grateful for my grandmother, Barbara Thomas, for her immense help and knowledge of that time period. 

I love Prudence’s story and I sincerely hope that readers will love it, too. If you’re interested in seeing the photographs that inspired me, please visit this website.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Stephanie Grey is a graduate of East Tennessee State University with a degree in journalism. Writing has always been present in Stephanie’s life. From a young age, she has been writing short stories for her family to enjoy. When she entered high school, she decided that she would one day write a full-length novel. She finally achieved her goal and is the proud author of three novels, including The Immortal Prudence Blackwood. She continues to write and hopes to be able to share her stories with the world for many years to come.

EXCLUSIVE DIGITAL CONTENT!

Be sure to visit The Immortal Prudence Blackwood’s publicity page to download free exclusive digital content!

 

 

The Scarecrow & George C
Mia Kerick
Publication date: June 3rd 2019
Genres: Contemporary, LGBTQ+, New Adult, Romance

High school senior Van Liss is barely human. He thinks of himself as a scarecrow—ragged and unnerving, stuck, and destined to spend his life cold and alone. If he ever had feelings, they were stomped out long ago by his selfish mother and her lecherous boyfriend. All he’s been left with is bitter contempt, to which he clings.

With a rough exterior long used to keep the world at bay, Van spooks George Curaco, the handsome new frycook at the diner where he works. But George C senses there is more to the untouchable Van and refuses to stop staring, fascinated by his eccentricity. When Van learns that George C is even more cold, alone, and frightened than himself, Van welcomes him to his empty home. And ends up finding his heart.

Their road to trust is rocky and, at times, even dangerous. And looming evil threatens to keep them apart forever.

Fair warning: You may want to strap in. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

*All proceeds of this book go to charity: True Colors United.
“True Colors United implements innovative solutions to youth homelessness that focus on the unique experiences of LGBTQ young people.”

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Author Bio:

Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—one in law school, another a professional dancer, a third studying at Mia’s alma mater, Boston College, and her lone son, heading off to college. (Yes, the nest is finally empty.) She has published more than twenty books of LGBTQ romance when not editing National Honor Society essays, offering opinions on college and law school applications, helping to create dance bios, and reviewing scholarship essays. Her husband of twenty-five years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about this, as it’s a sensitive subject.

Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled people in complex relationships. She has a great affinity for the tortured hero in literature, and as a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with tales of tortured heroes and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to her wonderful publishers for providing her with an alternate place to stash her stories.

Her books have been featured in Kirkus Reviews magazine, and have won Rainbow Awards for Best Transgender Contemporary Romance and Best YA Lesbian Fiction, a Reader Views’ Book by Book Publicity Literary Award, the Jack Eadon Award for Best Book in Contemporary Drama, an Indie Fab Award, and a Royal Dragonfly Award for Cultural Diversity, a Story Monsters Purple Dragonfly Award for Young Adult e-book Fiction, among other awards.

Mia Kerick is a social liberal and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of human rights. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology. Contact Mia at miakerick@gmail.com or visit at http://www.miakerickya.com to see what is going on in Mia’s world.

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Come A Little Closer
Chrissy Brown
(Georgia Boys #2)
Publication date: January 13th 2019
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Sophie was the love of my life. Okay, we were twelve the last time I saw her but still. I’ve tried everything to move on—whiskey, women, weed. Nothing seemed to fill the void. Now, ten years later, she shows up out of the blue. The problem, I’m not the boy she used to know. I have a reputation that could ruin everything. Still, I have to try. Even if nothing happens between us, having Sophie in my life as a friend is better than not having her at all.Come A Little Closer is the second installment in the Georgia Boys Series. It can be read as a standalone novel.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

I blush and shake my head. “We should get started on the bedroom.”

Kevin follows behind me, fiddling with his phone. I refill the paint tray and set it on the bedroom floor. Maroon 5’s “Girls Like You” starts playing. Kevin comes up behind me, puts his hands on my hips and begins to move them to the music. He presses against my back. My hands fall to my sides, and I tilt my head against his chest.

“This is not helping my walls get painted,” I whine.

“Come on, dance with me.” he pleads.

I turn around and stare into his eyes. It would be so easy to get lost in them but I can’t. I won’t. My hips stop moving, but Kevin’s still dancing. I raise the paintbrush that’s in my hand and slap him in the face with it. Slap sounds violent. It was more like I grazed him with cream colored paint while my hand slowly moved in front of his face. Kevin stops dancing. His jaw hangs open.

“Game on babe.”

Author Bio:

An avid reader who loves to write. When I’m not reading a book, I’m chasing around my twin girls or my two dogs. Visit my website http://www.chrissybrownauthor.com

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I am currently reading The Widow of Pale Harbor

by Hester Fox .

It going to be released on Edgar Allen Poe Birthday.. It’s Poe-ish and unnerving 🖤

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Raven Acoustics: Rock Star Romance
Grace Harper
(Red & Black Series, #3)
Publication date: April 9th 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Errol Thomas has a tortured soul, always has had.

Errol is out of rehab and is set on world domination. His record label is only too happy to pull his puppet strings to get him to the top of the soul music charts.

But it comes at a price, a price Errol doesn’t find out until it is too late.

He seeks solace in a local candle maker’s shop where Jane, the owner listens to tales of woe. When Ivory walks into the shop that has been his home away from home for over ten years, he is knocked sideways.

It’s only when he meets Ivory that he vows to keep his sobriety promise.

Just when Errol is on an even keel, falling in love with Ivory, her past comes knocking to reveal her secrets. In turn, his cover story at the label starts to unravel.

Will Errol be able to keep focussed on the end game or will he be collateral damage?

Red & Black have their own issues to deal with and become involved with Errol’s music career even if they don’t want to.

This is the third standalone romance novel in the Red & Black Series.

Book 1: Charcoal Notes
Book 2: Crimson Melodies

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

Deadline day had arrived.

The intimidating man sitting across from me in his ivory tower office had given me plenty of time to decide.

“What’s it to be, Errol?” Quinn said. His attention was squarely on his phone. I could be forgiven for thinking he couldn’t care less about my answer.

Today, I needed to sign the recording contract with The Dark Side record label or walk away. Quinn Saunders who owned the label had a plan that had played out to perfection. I’d won a talent contest, with my real name and my true passion for singing soul music. Transforming from Casey Lowe, rock band front man to Errol Thomas, solo soul singer was the best move I could have made and it was all thanks to Quinn.

When I saw Donovan Carter in the recording booth at my old label, a year ago, singing a Fragile song, I knew I had to leave Red & Black. When I watched Donovan sing the track, I could see Erin’s reflection in the glass wall of the studio. She’d given me the same proud smile years ago. That was when I was her favourite, before her husband Alex and long before Donovan.

The Dark Side record label building had stunning views across London. I loved coming up to the city to see Quinn. He’d coached me in the ways of the business and how to make a splash. His genius idea to use my real name and have the big reveal at the contest completely blinded all of them at Red & Black. For a moment, seeing Erin’s face when I shouted at Donovan about his sister made it all worthwhile. She doubted him and his innocence in what had happened. For a moment Erin was on my side. I hadn’t felt that in years, not since she danced with Alex Devlin at Green’s Music Venue. The night she left our friendship on the floor and went to him.

“Hell yes, I want this contract, pass me the pen.”

I jumped up from the leather sofa to reach for the contract. Quinn slapped his hand down hard on the stack of papers.

“Are you absolutely sure Errol? I’ll make you a worldwide sensation, but you’re going to have to play a role to get it.”

“I don’t care. All I want to do is to perform on stage and for everyone to know my name. I can sing, I’ve got the looks, and I don’t care what else I need to do.”

“Good lad,” Quinn said, flashing me a conspiratory smile. He took the pen from his inside jacket pocket and handed it over. The pen cost more than everything I owned. Everything about Quinn screamed wealth, and I wanted some of that money.

I scrawled my signature, using my real name in all the places the yellow sticky tabs told me to sign. The deal was done.

“What happens next?” I asked.

I’d retaken my seat on the sofa, watching the boats sail up the Thames river. Quinn had moved to the other side of his office into the gloom. The sun shone brightly in through the windows but only reached half of the floor space. Quinn’s black suit enabled him to blend in with the darkness, and I couldn’t see what he was doing.

“You wait for my call, lad. My PR people will be in touch soon with our game plan.”

“Am I going to lay down some tracks today?”

“Not yet.” I heard his irritation, I could have kicked myself for being over eager. Playing it cool never came easily to me. “We need to get everything in place first. We can take our time, get it right to make you a superstar.”

Quinn turned his back to take a call, dismissing me from the conversation. It wasn’t until he slipped through a side door in his office and his PA came in to collect the signed papers that I understood I was dismissed for the day.

“Have a great day, Errol,” she said with a smile that told me it had been many years since she’d had a good day.

I muttered my thanks to her retreating back, drank the glass of water in front of me and took one more look at Quinn’s office. Over the last couple of years, this had been our HQ for planning. Quinn discussed with me the next step in getting away from Maverick and Red & Black label. Years of planning and here I was, the ink still wet on the contract that would take me to superstardom.

Rubbing my closed fist against my chest as I left Quinn’s empty cold office, I looked for any familiar faces to chat with. I was still used to the Red & Black mansion where everything was open plan. Here at The Dark Side head office, all offices had doors with no windows to peek in. The grey slate coloured carpets marked my exit to the elevators and down to the security desk.

Quinn hadn’t told me what would happen in the coming months. I trusted him to keep me on the path to fame and fortune. Now that I’d signed the contract, I had faith in him more than ever to get me to household name status.

Aouthor Bio:

British author who loves to write about strong women and handsome men. She writes steamy romance novels that will warm your heart.

Writer of the Brodie Saga and the Geary Series, Grace immerses you in stories of love, or rather, love’s pursuit to bring together two people who were meant for each other. It’s not always quick or easy but it will happen eventually.

When Grace is not writing, she can be found mooching about in stationery stores. Grace might have a Maltesers addiction but is not ready to stand up and own that just yet.

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The Storm Crow

by Kalyn Josephson

Published by SourcebooksFire

on July 9, 2019

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy

Pages: 368

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Ya Fantasy- Magical Realism

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

This book was received as an ARC from Edelweiss,in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own

Kalyn Josephson magical worlds comes to life in, The Storm Crow.

When the Queen of Rhodaire and Anthia’s (Thia as she is mainly known by characters close to her). Mother is killed, along with all their Elementals Crows, by the kingdom Illucia.

I devoured this one as fast as I could and was completely drawn into the lives of these characters.  I turned those pages as fast as I could and then slowly took in all the depth and layers to the characters. The Author creates diversity and representation of its characters, sexuality and mental stability and race. A gripping, captivating, thought-provoking, epic fantasy.

What really stood out for me and what I really loved about this story was the compelling and emotional fragility of Anthia’s character.

“I wanted to let the world swallow me up. There were days where I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move, couldn’t think.”

Josephenson, masterly creates creative world building along with adventure and just enough romance, to create a epic Ya fantasy. I can highly recommend this book and I will be waiting anxiously for the next book in this series!

Author:

Kalyn Josephson is a Technical Writer in Silicon Valley, which leaves room for too many bad puns about technically being a writer. She grew up in San Luis Obispo, CA, but now lives in the Bay Area with four awesome friends (because it’s the Bay and she’d like to be able to retire one day) and two black cats (who are more like a tiny dragon and an even tinier owl). When not writing YA Fantasy, she loves baking, reading, playing sports, and watching too many movies.