Friday, August 31, 2018

Down theTBR Hole #2 - Conquering my TBR list


Down the TBR Hole is a weekly meme created and hosted by Lost in a Story.

How it works:
📚 Go to your goodreads to-read shelf.
📚 Order on ascending date added.
📚 Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
📚 Read the synopses of the books
📚Decide: keep it or should it go?

The Books
Kiss Collector by Wendy Higgins

I love Wendy Higgins's books and will probably read any genre she attempts so I'm definitely hanging on this one, even if I am waiting to order it with my ApollyCon 2019 order. 
















JUDGEMENT: Stay

Gravemaidens by Kelly Coon

This book sounded so good when I first heard about it. Now I'm wondering why I added it to my TBR list. It doesn't even sound like something I would read. Maybe the title is what grabbed me. 
















JUDGEMENT: Go

Teeth in the Mist by Dawn Kurtagich

I really love Dawn Kurtagich's creepy writing style and this book sounds really good!


















JUDGEMENT: Stay

Zombie Alley by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

I won a copy of this book and it sounds like something I'd find interesting. Kind of like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I'll give it a try. Just in time for Halloween!
















JUDGEMENT: Stay

It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time by Kylie Scott

Normally I love Kylie Scott which is why I added this to my TBR list. But this book doesn't appeal to me at all with the much-older-guy thing. It sounds rather gross. Old man balls... ick!















JUDGEMENT: Go

The Shadowglass by Rin Chupeco

I love this series so much and can't wait to read the final book. I'm hoping I'll get an ARC before release, so fingers-crossed! 

















JUDGEMENT: Stay

Empress Unveiled by Jenna Morland

I think I added this book to my TBR because the author followed me on Twitter and the book sounded good at the time. Now I don't really feel like reading it. I'm not sure I'd like it if I did. 
















JUDGEMENT: Go

Liar, Liar by Lisa Jackson

Normally I love Lisa Jackson, but I tried starting this one the other day and I just couldn't get into it. I'm going to set it aside for a while, take it off my TBR shelf, and listen to it on audiobook at some later date. 















JUDGEMENT: Go (for now)

Escaping From Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco

I love this series and I've already preordered EFH in audiobook so now I just have to force myself to wait until it comes out September 18th. Waiting sucks!!!!















JUDGEMENT: Stay

Sea Witch by Sarah Henning

I've been seeing a lot of siren, Little Mermaid-prequel, sea-related books this year and this one just doesn't appeal to me as much as others. I think I'd like to try To Kill A Kingdom (which sounds similar to this one) and then see how I feel. Gorgeous cover though! (Which is probably why I added it in the first place.)













JUDGEMENT: Go

TBR Status:

Books Deleted: 5

TBR Count: 27

I actually made a dent this week, so that combined with my reading through my TBR, I'm slowly cutting this list in half!

Thursday, August 30, 2018

{Release Day Blitz} STEALING TRANQUILITY by J.L. Weil


Today I'm helping Rock Star Book Tours spread the word about the release of STEALING TRANQUILITY by J.L. Weil, available now!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author J.L. Weil, be sure to check out all the details below. 

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a $10 Amazon Gift Card, International, courtesy of J.L. and Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

About the Book:

Title: STEALING TRANQUILITY Reverse Harem (Dragon Descendants Book 1)
Author: J.L. Weil
Pub. Date: August 30, 2018
Publisher: Dark Magick Publishing, LLC
Formats: eBook
Pages: 180
Find it: GoodreadsAmazon
Get ready to meet Jase, Kieran, Zade, and Issik, the last dragon descendants.

Olivia Campbell’s life gets turned upside down when her mother suddenly passes away. Left with only a stepdad who despises her, she turns to the streets. Penniless and alone in the Chicago winter, how much worse can it get?

She is about to find out.

A chance encounter with a stranger who has the most breathtaking violet eyes changes her world. Just a warm smile and a quick flash of dimples is all that it takes to capture her interest in Jase Dior. Olivia wonders if her luck has finally returned.
She soon finds out that Jase collects things—pretty girls to be precise. A glimpse of her sultry honey hair in an alley excites him. He must have her. And he isn’t taking no for an answer.

Jase sweeps Olivia off the streets to the Veil Isles—a mystical and hidden land uncharted by any mortal and ruled by the only dragon coven left in the world.

What the hell did she get herself into?

Four dragons. 
One headstrong heroine.
And a reverse-harem fantasy romance that could change the fate of a dying race. 

Stealing Tranquility will transport fans of Twilight, A Shade of Vampire, and Shadowhunters to an enchanted world unlike any other. Prepare for a unique spin on the lore you love—and an adventure that is as thrilling as it is unexpected. 

Scroll up and BUY NOW to begin...
*Recommended for ages 17+ due to language and sexual content

Excerpt:
Zade moved so he stood just slightly in front of me as if protecting me. Odd. Did I need protection from Jase? “Just making sure our little gem doesn’t get herself in trouble.” Zade cocked his head to the side. “Isn’t that what we agreed on?”

The tranquility-breathing dragon stood inside the arched doorway, glaring at Zade with a mean scowl—his eyes so dark they almost appeared black. “Yes, but that doesn’t include you seducing her.”

“Since when do you meddle in my extracurricular activities?” Zade challenged him, with an edge to his voice.

It was my turn to frown. I was no one’s extracurricular activity.

A growl rose up in Jase’s throat. He stormed to where Zade and I where awkwardly standing. “She’s off limits.”

Golden God’s lips formed into a tight line. “You forget, Jase, you’re not king. There is no single ruler of the Veil anymore.”

Things had escalated quickly, and I didn’t want these two going into the dragon ring over me. “Hey!” I yelled, stepping between the two. Not the brightest of ideas, but at the moment, it was all I could think to do. I didn’t want blood spilled over me.

A muscle began to thump in Jase’s jaw. “Keep your lips off her.”

Spreading my arms out wide between them, my hands flattened on their chests. “Okay. First off, I can kiss whomever I want.”

Jase’s glower deepened.

I rolled my eyes. This was ridiculous. Framing Jase’s face with both of my hands, I rose up on my toes and planted one on him, just to prove a point. The joke was on me.

The moment our lips met, all annoyance vanished from within me. My eyes fluttered closed as I fell into the blissful storm that was all Jase. His lips were soft… and skilled, expertly moving over mine. His hands came up to cup either side of my cheeks, and he deepened what was supposed to be a peck. My mouth opened, letting him in, and a purr sounded at the back of my throat as his tongue swept inside.

I’d never been kissed like this before—so passionately and fervently. My fingers bunched his shirt, holding him in place just in case he got any ideas about pulling away. I wasn’t done yet. Honestly, I never wanted to stop kissing Jase Dior.

Zade cleared his throat behind us. How had I forgotten about him? Jase pulled back, his breath as ragged as mine.

I glanced up into his eyes, seeing the violet in them glowing brightly. “There. Are you satisfied?” I rasped, swallowing a knot of yearning. No more kissing dragons.

“Not nearly.” Jase’s head dipped as if he was going to take possession of my lips again.

My hand pressed against his chest, keeping him just out of reach. “Oh, no. I think I’ve kissed enough dragons today.” I could barely believe I had locked lips with two of them within minutes of each other.

What is wrong with me?

About Jennifer:
USA TODAY Bestselling author J.L. Weil lives in Illinois where she writes Teen & New Adult Paranormal Romances about spunky, smart mouth girls who always wind up in dire situations. For every sassy girl, there is an equally mouthwatering, overprotective guy. Of course, there is lots of kissing. And stuff.

An admitted addict to Love Pink clothes, raspberry mochas from Starbucks, and Jensen Ackles. She loves gushing about books and Supernatural with her readers.

She is the author of the International Bestselling Raven & Divisa series.






Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page | Book Bub | Instagram


Giveaway Details:

1 winner will win a $10 Amazon Gift Card, INTERNATIONAL.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco


Waiting on Wednesday is a tag created by Jill @ Breaking the Spine several years ago. This fun feature allows us to showcase upcoming book releases that we’re excited to read! This week I’m sharing my excitement for the third book in the Stalking Jack the Ripper Series by Kerri Maniscalco, ESCAPING FROM HOUDINI! This series follows Audrey Rose Wadsworth, a girl in Victorian England who'd rather investigate murders and do autopsies alongside her uncle and her excruciating partner, Thomas Cresswell than act how a proper young lady of highborn British society should act. I've loved this series since the beginning, Audrey Rose is the picture of a strong female lead and Maniscalco is fantastic at world-building - you feel as if you've stepped into late nineteenth-century England and Romania - and her descriptions of medical and forensic procedure is well detailed. Unfortunately I didn't get an ARC this time so I am so, so, so excited to finally read Escaping from Houdini!!!!

Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco
Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper
Published by: Jimmy Patterson
Genres: Young Adult - Historical Fiction, Mystery, Romance
Add to Goodreads
Preorder from Amazon 💠 Barnes and Noble 💠 Books of Wonder



In this third installment in the #1 bestselling Stalking Jack the Ripper series, a luxurious ocean liner becomes a floating prison of scandal, madness, and horror when passengers are murdered one by one…with nowhere to run from the killer. .

Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her partner-in-crime-investigation, Thomas Cresswell, are en route to New York to help solve another blood-soaked mystery. Embarking on a week-long voyage across the Atlantic on the opulent RMS Etruria, they’re delighted to discover a traveling troupe of circus performers, fortune tellers, and a certain charismatic young escape artist entertaining the first-class passengers nightly.

But then, privileged young women begin to go missing without explanation, and a series of brutal slayings shocks the entire ship. The strange and disturbing influence of the Moonlight Carnival pervades the decks as the murders grow ever more freakish, with nowhere to escape except the unforgiving sea. It’s up to Audrey Rose and Thomas to piece together the gruesome investigation as even more passengers die before reaching their destination. But with clues to the next victim pointing to someone she loves, can Audrey Rose unravel the mystery before the killer’s horrifying finale?


There's an awesome preorder incentive going on now that you won't want to miss out on!

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY OF ESCAPING FROM HOUDINI
Submit proof of pre-order here to receive eight limited edition character cards.

Have you read the Stalking Jack the Ripper Series? What do you think of it? If you haven't, do you want to?

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

{Release Day Blitz} FROM THE BARONESS'S DIARY III by Cristiane Serruya

FROM THE BARONESS'S DIARY III: The Happily Ever Afters by Cristiane Serruya is available now! Find out more about this sexy reverse harem below, pick up your copy today, plus find out how you can read the first ten chapters and get some delicious recipes for free!
 

About FROM THE BARONESS’S DIARY III: THE HAPPILY EVER

I’ve been trying to get away from one man, I didn’t think I’d end up with three.
I flee my abusive husband and travel to Italy to find Salvatore Di Luca, my long-lost love.
But the moment I set foot in Sicily, my life takes an unexpected turn: I meet Enzo, a dominant, broken-hearted man, and we connect at first sight. I couldn’t have imagined he is Salvatore’s elder brother and that they have a younger brother, Angelo, who thinks he is damaged for life. 
It’s more than a trip. It’s a life-time journey.
All three of them want me and I want to heal their tortured souls and broken hearts. Before I even realize what is happening, we are entangled. Yet I am still married and the darkness of my past comes crashing down on us sooner rather than later, threatening more than our happiness.
But I won’t go down without a fight—and neither will my Harem—because my journey won’t be complete until forever belongs to the four of us. 
If you are a fan of a romantic Reverse Harem Romance, you will love this scandalous, refreshing, and, of course, incredibly sexy story which involves three alpha Italian knights who will do anything for their baroness—ops, their Principessa. Buy this quick-blush, perfect bedside read by USA Today bestselling author Cristiane Serruya now!
Please note that this book might covers sensitive topics to some readers.

Read an except from FROM THE BARONESS'S DIARY III:

My hands pause on the vine and I shake my head hard, trying to clear her voice from my thoughts. It’s not the first time this has happened to me and a hard shake of my head usually takes care of the problem. “It’s me, Chloé.” But not this time. A spark of hope flows through me as I slowly turn my head to her voice. My dream takes a step forward, her boots crunching on the leaves I have been clearing. Because I have been tormented that my trip had been in vain and that I would have to wait to go to France and comb Paris to find where her friend lives. Only manual work under the sun could take her out of my head. “Chloé?” I ask hesitantly, scared I am having a vision. There’s a storm inside me. A whirlwind of surprise and fear, threatening to drown me. Why are you here? And from somewhere deep inside, another question whispers itself. Why did you take so long? Emotions flit across her beautiful face. She looks older. Well, she’s four years older than when I last saw her, but it’s not that. There are delicate lines around her eyes now, as if she has begun to smile more, her face is leaner, more mature—even more beautiful, if that is possible—and her body seems to be thinner, more toned than it had been at the manor, but that is not something I can say for sure at a glance. Maybe it’s her clothes, which are also more modern than the ones she wore in Beardley Manor but still very proper. “Oui,” she answers, clasping her hands so tightly together in front of her I can see her fingers getting white. I clear my throat as I drop the shears into the basket at my feet. “Why have you come?” It’s not the reunion I have pictured in my mind. There’s something different about her, something more timid than the woman I have given my body and my heart to. “I-I have come to find you, Salvatore. You did not return and I-I—” Her voice falters as if she realizes only now she doesn’t know why she has come all this way to find me. “I was tired of waiting and I am a bit impatient…you know.” I chuckle, but I still can’t make myself meet her gaze. “Cara, we all knew you are a lot impatient.” “You did not come back to me.” I lift my head at the sound of her voice breaking and I see a myriad of emotions in her eyes. There’s concern, desire, and hope, but none of the heat that we had once shared. “I am not under your thumb to do your bidding any longer, my lady.” Her eyes widen as the tone of my voice surprises her. “You were never under my thumb, Salvatore, you were in my heart.” Her cheeks flush from her own declaration and I regret the cold sound of my words. I clear my throat. I knew I would never have her as my own, but for a time it was like I owned her, body, heart, and soul. She was the lady of the manor, wife of the baron. But while he had her legally, her body craved mine and no matter how much time he may have spent with her, it was our time together that brought her to life, gave birth to her naughty streak. She belonged to me. She is still mine. “Cara,” I say softly, stripping off my gloves. “I thought I would never see you again.” A tear escapes her eye as I meet her halfway, feeling the coolness of her hands as they run over the warm skin of my back. She is fresh and perfumed in contrast to my smell of dirt and sweat, but she doesn’t seem to care. She never has. I burrow my face into her shoulder and I breathe deep, taking in her scent—English roses, her favorite flowers. It has haunted me night and day since I left her in that forsaken manor with that bastard of a husband.  

Get your hands on the first ten chapters of FROM THE BARONESS'S DIARY III and some delicious recipes from Cristiane Serruya here!

 

Want to catch up on some of Chloe's earlier adventures for free? 


About FROM THE BARONESS'S DIARY: THE EROTIC ESCAPES OF BARON BEARDLEY'S WIFE

An erotic, funny tale of a young woman in search of love.
At the tender age of 18, Lady Chloé de La Fleur was married off to 40 year-old Baron Beardley, a wealthy English peer, and taken away from the whirlwind of Paris and London societies to live in a forsaken manor way out of Warwickshire.
Young, beautiful, and voluptuous, the Baroness finds that in Beardley Manor innocent flirtations can become erotic sex escapades.
And soon Lady Chloe’s diary pages are filled with her adventures—and misadventures! If you are a fan of the romantic Misadventures Series and Calendar Girl, you will love this scandalous, refreshing, and, of course, incredibly sexy romance. The Erotic Escapades of Baron Beardley's Wife is the first installment of The Diaries Series, a quick-blush, perfect bedside read collection by USA Today bestselling author Cristiane Serruya!
✦Amazon http://amzn.to/2lnp8n2 ✦iBooks http://apple.co/2serTaA ✦Barnes & Noble http://bit.ly/2IoEYVZ ✦Kobo http://bit.ly/2yDJcJX ✦Google Play http://bit.ly/2yG1UR2

About Cristiane Serruya

USA TODAY and Amazon bestselling romance author Cristiane Serruya—or just Cris—is Brazilian and lives in Rio de Janeiro, with her husband, two teenage daughters, and Loki, her Shetland Sheepdog. She has studied in England, France, Italy, and Switzerland and graduated in Law, with a Master’s in Business Law and a BA in Fine Arts. In 2012, she published her first romance, and is proud of the awards her novels have received. She still works as a lawyer, but writing has become an essential part of her life, and a fulfilling adventure, as it allows her to make friends all over the world.

Monday, August 27, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Bookish Institutions of Learning

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top 10 Bookish Schools

With schools going back in session soon, this week's TTT is a freebie for back to school and I've decided to list books with boarding schools in them. Weirdly, I always secretly dreamed of going away to boarding school when I was a kid. It looked so cool. But it probably isn't... Anyway, these ten schools are in faraway places, dark and broody places, full of magic, and mythical beings. Some you'd love to get sent to, others could be your worse nightmare. Let's start the list with...

1. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Harry Potter Series)

2. The Fortune School (Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach)

3. Winterhaven (Haven by Krisi Cook)

4.St. Vladimir's Academy(Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead)

5. The Little Palace (Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo)

6. RoseBlood by A.G. Howard

7. (School of America in Paris) Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

8. Easton Academy (Private by Kate Brian)

9. Sword and Cross (Fallen Series by Lauren Kate)

10. The School of Exorcists (School of Exorcists Series by K.E. O'Connor)
What are some of your favorite bookish schools? Did any of your favorites make the list? Would you want to attend any of the ones listed?
Let me know in the comments or drop me a link to your TTT!
Happy Reading Bookdragons!

Read NIGHT OF TERROR