Author Archives: Kristin

Bare-chested rock stars

14 October, 2018 12:47 am , 4 Comments ,

I’m linking this post to Sunday Post, Stacking the Shelves, and It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

So… if you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen that I recently got a position working at Joshua Tree National Park. I’m currently only part-time and sort of fill in when someone calls in sick or asks for leave, which means my schedule is all over the place. So that is why I haven’t done a wrap-up in a while. I’m either at work, or exhausted from work. So, I’m sorry if my wrap-ups are a bit sporadic for a while until I get back into the groove of things.

Oh, and I also had a bit of exciting news the other day. Sourcebooks Casablanca has this InstaSwoon newsletter that they put out and right there at the top of the email this week was my photo of Hunt the Dawn! They featured one of my photos in their newsletter! I was blown away. I usually tend to keep to myself and fly under the radar. Not to mention I don’t use a bunch of props or elaborate photo shoots for my bookish photos. I just sort of pull out a book I want to feature and take a quick photo of it. I also only use my smartphone to take the photo and don’t do any crazy editing to my pictures. So, never in a million years would I have thought that any of my photos would stand out, let alone to a publisher, to the point where they’d want to share it with their readers. I’m honestly still speechless over it all.

 

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Posted in: meme

Review: Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven

12 October, 2018 12:51 am , 5 Comments ,

Phoenix Unbound
(Fallen Empire #1)
by Grace Draven
Publisher: Ace Books
Publication date: Sept. 25, 2018
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Rating:

Every year, each village is required to send a young woman to the Empire’s capital–her fate to be burned alive for the entertainment of the masses. For the last five years, one small village’s tithe has been the same woman. Gilene’s sacrifice protects all the other young women of her village, and her secret to staying alive lies with the magic only she possesses.

But this year is different.

Azarion, the Empire’s most famous gladiator, has somehow seen through her illusion–and is set on blackmailing Gilene into using her abilities to help him escape his life of slavery. And unknown to Gilene, he also wants to reclaim the birthright of his clan.

To protect her family and village, she will risk everything to return to the Empire–and burn once more.

 

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Posted in: Fantasy, Romance

Sneak Peek Wednesday: Love, Cutter by Michelle Jester (Giveaway)

10 October, 2018 6:50 am , 8 Comments ,

Love, Cutter
by Michelle Jester
Publisher: RopeSwing Press
Publication date: Aug. 28, 2018
Genre: New Adult Romance

After an attempted suicide Carter finds himself in a coma. He is able to hear the world around him, yet he can’t move. What he hears propels Carter to begin to see life in a new way, especially when one of his nurses, Kinley, shares parts of her tragic past with him. Soon, Carter realizes he is falling in love with her.

Months after being transferred from the hospital, to a rehabilitation facility, he suddenly wakes up with a passion to live that he never had before and a determination to find the one person he feels may be able to help him put the pieces of his life together again. However, when he returns to the hospital, Kinley is gone and Carter must try to find her based solely on the things she shared with him while he was in a coma.

Only, nothing is as it seems and Carter learns the biggest lesson of them all… the differences between expectation, perception, and reality.

 

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Posted in: Excerpt, NA Romance

Review: Fight or Flight by Samantha Young

8 October, 2018 12:30 am , 7 Comments ,

Fight or Flight
by Samantha Young
Publisher: Berkley
Publication date: Oct. 9, 2018
Genre: Romance
Rating:

The universe is conspiring against Ava Breevort. As if flying back to Phoenix to bury a childhood friend wasn’t hell enough, a cloud of volcanic ash traveling from overseas delayed her flight back home to Boston. Her last ditch attempt to salvage the trip was thwarted by an arrogant Scotsman, Caleb Scott, who steals a first class seat out from under her. Then over the course of their journey home, their antagonism somehow lands them in bed for the steamiest layover Ava’s ever had. And that’s all it was–until Caleb shows up on her doorstep.

When pure chance pulls Ava back into Caleb’s orbit, he proposes they enjoy their physical connection while he’s stranded in Boston. Ava agrees, knowing her heart’s in no danger since a) she barely likes Caleb and b) his existence in her life is temporary. Not long thereafter Ava realizes she’s made a terrible error because as it turns out Caleb Scott isn’t quite so unlikeable after all. When his stay in Boston becomes permanent, Ava must decide whether to fight her feelings for him or give into them. But even if she does decide to risk her heart on Caleb, there is no guarantee her stubborn Scot will want to risk his heart on her….

 

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Posted in: Romance , Tagged: ,

Sneak Peek Wednesday: After the Fire by Will Hill

3 October, 2018 9:33 am , 4 Comments ,

After the Fire
by Will Hill
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication date: Oct. 2, 2018
Genre: Young Adult

The things I’ve seen are burned into me, like scars that refuse to fade.

Before, she lived inside the fence. Before, she was never allowed to leave the property, never allowed to talk to Outsiders, never allowed to speak her mind. Because Father John controlled everything—and Father John liked rules. Disobeying Father John came with terrible consequences.

But there are lies behind Father John’s words. Outside, there are different truths.

Then came the fire.

 

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Posted in: Excerpt, YA Contemporary , Tagged: ,

Review: Race the Darkness by Abbie Roads

1 October, 2018 12:42 am , 10 Comments ,

Race the Darkness
(Fatal Dreams #1)
by Abbie Roads
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication date: Oct. 4, 2016
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Rating:

Cursed with a terrible gift…

Criminal investigator Xander Stone doesn’t have to question you—he can hear your thoughts. Scarred by lightning, burdened with a power that gives him no peace, Xander struggles to maintain his sanity against the voice that haunts him day and night—the voice of a woman begging him to save her.

A gift that threatens to engulf them…

Isleen Walker has long since given up hope of escape from the nightmare of captivity and torture that is draining her life, her mind, and her soul. Except…there is the man in her feverish dreams, the strangely beautiful man who beckons her to freedom and wholeness. And when he comes, if he comes, it will take all their combined fury and faith to overcome a madman bent on fulfilling a deadly prophecy.

 

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Posted in: Paranormal Romance , Tagged: ,

Review: Breath of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

28 September, 2018 8:18 am , 4 Comments ,

Breath of Fire
(Kingmaker Chronicles #2)
by Amanda Bouchet
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication date: Jan. 3, 2017
Genre: Fantasy
Rating:

SHE’S DESTINED TO DESTROY THE WORLD…
“Cat” Catalia Fisa has been running from her destiny since she could crawl. But now, her newfound loved ones are caught between the shadow of Cat’s tortured past and the threat of her world-shattering future. So what’s a girl to do when she knows it’s her fate to be the harbinger of doom? Everything in her power.

BUT NOT IF SHE CAN HELP IT
Griffin knows Cat is destined to change the world-for the better. As the realms are descending into all-out war, Cat and Griffin must embrace their fate together. Gods willing, they will emerge side-by-side in the heart of their future kingdom…or not at all.

 

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Posted in: Fantasy , Tagged: ,

Sneak Peek Wednesday: Renegade by Mallory McCartney

26 September, 2018 12:18 am , Leave a Comment ,

Renegade
(Black Dawn 0.5)
by Mallory McCartney
Publisher: Clean Reads Publishing
Publication date: Aug. 21, 2018
Genre: Young adult fantasy

“The time for Kiero’s reign in prosperity is over.”

Six years before the Black Dawn Rebellion, Adair Stratton and Emory Fae are following in their parent’s footsteps and living at The Academy, a home for those who are gifted. The pressure to uphold the future of their parent’s dream falls on them. An outcast and feared by most, Adair longs to break away from the expectations dictating his future. Even if Emory tries to make him see differently. An unexpected group of friends keep him there, but as whispers of unexplained disappearances start reaching from the capital, Adair starts to doubt The Academy is all it seems.

An unexpected visit ignites new tensions as the roguish king from across the Black Sea, Tadeas Maher of the Shattered Isles, and his heir, Marquis Maher sail to Kiero. Notorious for their pirating and wrath- for the first time in years, they demand the Fae’s listen to their proposition for a new treaty, holding the news of Nei’s father’s abrupt death over them. Caught in the middle of politics- Adair and Emory, with the help of their best friends Brokk and Memphis search for the one thing that matters most- finding out the truth.

In this gripping prequel to Black Dawn, their world is tipped upside down as unlikely alliances are made. War ravages through Kiero and is torn apart by acclaimed Kings. Through the throes of betrayal, lies, hidden magic and love, Adair is faced with a life changing decision- to fight or to bow to the darkness within him.

 

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Posted in: Excerpt, YA Fantasy , Tagged: ,

Review: Cross Breed by Lora Leigh

24 September, 2018 10:00 am , 5 Comments ,

Cross Breed
(Breeds #23)
by Lora Leigh
Publisher: Berkley
Publication date: Sept 25, 2018
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating:

The Breeds are humans altered before conception with the DNA of the predators of Earth. But although they all carry the genetic material of beasts within them, Cassandra Sinclair stands apart. A unique mix of wolf, coyote and human, she is revered by many—but preyed upon by others. She is fiercely protected by her community…but no one manages to stop her when she slips away one day to offer her body in exchange for her sister’s safety.

The man she succumbs to surprises her by unleashing her inner animal in ways she never dreamed possible—and provokes her deep, furious rage. To Cassie’s shock, he is the mate she has long awaited. She may never be able to forgive his deception. Still, as dangerous enemies track her, and as the threat of all-out war between Breeds and the humans who despise them hovers in the air, they must join forces and hold fast to each other.

But the passionate union between them holds a potential that could change the world—and some will do anything to stop it…

 

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Posted in: Paranormal Romance , Tagged: ,

It’s finally fall!

23 September, 2018 9:26 am , 8 Comments ,

I’m linking this post to Sunday Post, Stacking the Shelves, and It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

I’m really excited that fall is finally here. I mean, I’ve sort of been celebrating fall since the end of August when I broke out all my fall decor, and clothes, but not now it’s acceptable to wear my Halloween leggings out in public. LoL

The past couple of weeks have been pretty low-key. Last weekend we checked out a local farmers market and went to the Joshua Tree Art Expo. This week started the #contemporaryathon. I had set out to read four books, but sadly I only finished three of them. However, they were three books I’ve had sitting on my shelves for years. So it was nice to finally brush them off and read them.

 

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Posted in: meme