Review: Aidan (The Awakening #1) by Abby Niles

Is the gift of eternal love a blessing or a curse?

After years of counseling grieving shifters, psychiatrist and half-shifter, Dr. Jaylin Avgar has become jaded on shifter mating. She wants to marry a human and forget about the love for eternity crap. Then she meets Aidan O’Connell, an infuriatingly laid back shifter who represents everything she doesn’t want. Yet, the more he pursues her, the more she craves a future with him. Only one thing stands in her way: death. Can she overcome her fear of losing Aidan to the one guarantee in life?

Millionaire consultant, Aidan O’Connell knows he’ll one day meet a woman who’ll awaken an unrelenting mating instinct. Unfortunately, that woman is Jaylin, who has no qualms about telling him that he and his so-called eternity can shove it. When she pushes him away, he takes a drastic step so she can no longer escape. The close proximity throws the instinct into overdrive. Can he control the need engrained in him until he’s certain she will reciprocate the bond, or will a moment of weakness doom him to hell on earth?

*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*

It all starts when Aiden's friend, Liam, is going through some grief about being rejected by his mate. This leaves him in a state of paralysis, which he can die of. Wanting to save his friend, he calls upon the help of specialist Dr. Jaylin Avgar. After a lot of convincing she agrees to help Liam.

Jaylin is a specialist when it comes to broken bonds between mates. But after years of seeing the extreme pain they go through, she has decided she doesn't want that. She wants a nice human man to marry and not have the fear of getting ending up in the same state as her patients.

Which would be okay, if Aiden wasn't her mate. After one kiss the mating ritual starts and while he tries to hold himself back before overwhelming Jaylin, she just refuses to even consider mating with him.

I really liked Aiden. He's smart, gorgeous, loyal and strong, without being too alpha about it. He tries to please his mate, but that can be difficult if he starts feeling like he might go down the same path Liam when Jailyn keeps refusing him.

It really is up to Jailyn to decide to give in to Aiden or not. Which by the end of the book got really tiring. Her constantly denying him, because she's too afraid when she clearly knows what the consequences will be for them, I did not understand. I wanted to knock some sense in that woman.

Overall the story was well written, the characters were well developed and the world building was interesting and very extensive. Aiden is a nice romance about shifters with plenty of steamy scenes to keep you happy.

The Awakening - Reading order and purchase links

    

The Author

Ever since Abby Niles picked up her first Sweet Valley High book in sixth grade and fell in love with Elizabeth and Todd, she’s been hooked on romance. By the time she reached high school, she was devouring meatier romances with pirates, cowboys and knights. She never imagined that those years of reading would one day lead to her becoming a published author.

In her late twenties, after having twins and becoming a stay-at-home mom, she started doodling stories to keep her sanity. Next thing she knew, she was actually submitting to publishing houses. And was immediately rejected. That didn’t stop her though. She found some kickass critique partners, honed her craft, and continued submitting.

And eventually sold.

Today, she juggles work, being a single mom, and writing. It’s not always easy, but hey, who said life was easy?

Abby is the author of the contemporary MMA romance, Extreme Love, the first book in her Love to the Extreme series. Fighting Love is scheduled to release in December of 2013 and Winning Love is scheduled for 2014. She is also the author of the dark paranormal romance series The Awakening: Aidan and the The Awakening: Liam and The Awakening: Britton. Both series are with Entangled Publishing. She also has a geeky romantic comedy, Defying Convention, with Carina Press.

Connect with Abby Niles:

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Goodreads

Excerpt: The Boy From The Woods by Jen Minkman

SNEAK PEEK into…

THE BOY FROM THE WOODS 

By Jen Minkman

Expected release: December 1, 2013

Young Adult Contemporary/Paranormal Romance 

Pre-order: iTunes | Kobo

Julia has been in love with Michael for years. He’s the hottest guy in school, and she can’t believe her luck when they finally hit it off during Senior Prom. Her dream doesn’t last, though: after a few dates, he callously dumps her out of the blue. Summer vacation starts with Julia feeling heart-broken and miserable.
But then she rescues Michael in the woods when he has a motorcycle accident in a heavy thunderstorm. From that point onward, her life is turned upside down. Michael has changed completely after the blow to the head that nearly killed him... and he wants her back. But why is he so different? And will she be able to trust him this time around?

Can the boy who broke your heart ever win it back again..?

Sneak Peek Excerpt

Julia trailed behind her boss as she walked over to the cash register, looking left and right to catch a glimpse of her other colleagues.

“Kolbe!” her brand-new boss shouted toward the entrance. “Come and help me out, will you?”

Julia stopped dead, frozen in her tracks. Was she going deaf, or had Martin just said… Her heart hammered ridiculously fast as her eyes zoomed in on the front door.

“He’ll come and help you at the register.” Martin’s voice sounded as though it was coming from far away. He left her standing there, rooted to the spot.

Julia tried to snap out of her paralysis and stumbled the final few steps to the counter. Her breath hitched when she saw an all-too-familiar figure walking in her direction. She swallowed. But surely it couldn’t be. Oh God, no. No, no, no. This was not happening.

And then, she couldn’t look anywhere else but up, straight into two eyes green as the forest.

“What on earth are you doing here?” Julia stared at him in alarm.

“I work here,” he replied unfazed, a half-smile tugging at his lips.

“Since when?” It was simply not possible that she, in her unfailing stalker mode, had somehow missed this: Michael holding a job at the same bookstore she’d applied to two days ago.

“Since last week.”

His smug composure quickly turned her initial befuddlement into outright infuriation.

“Why?” she demanded fractiously.

He raised an eyebrow. “To earn some extra cash?” he declared in an ‘isn’t-that-really-obvious’ tone.

“But why here?”

Michael started to chuckle. “Why are you giving me the third degree?”

“Are you following me or something?” she grumbled, her heart treacherously leaping in her chest for a moment as she considered the possibility.

“Well, I’m sorry to burst your bubble here, but I think it’s the other way around. First, you turn up at the pub I always hang out at on weeknights, then, you decide to take a jog near the place where I almost had a fatal accident, and now you turn out to have applied for a job at the same store I’ve been working at for the past week. What does it look like to you?”

Shucks, he was right. Julia resisted the urge to stamp her foot like a little girl. “In your dreams, you arrogant bastard,” she muttered. “Everybody says I should stay away from you.”

In the silence that followed, she could still hear her heart beating in her throat.

About the Author
Jen Minkman (1978) was born in the Netherlands and has lived in Austria, Belgium and the UK during her studies. She learned how to read at the age of three and has never stopped reading since. Her favourite books to read are (YA) paranormal/fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian and romance, and this is reflected in the stories she writes. In her home country, she is a trade-published author of paranormal romance and chicklit. Across the border, she is a self-published author of poetry, paranormal romance and dystopian fiction. Her books are available in English, Dutch and Chinese.

She currently resides in The Hague where she works and lives with her husband and two noisy zebra finches.

Connect with Jen Minkman:

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Goodreads

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Review: Angel Bait (Angel Assassins #1) by Tricia Skinner

*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*

Saved by the angel sent to kill them, four half-angel boys are trained and employed as Heaven's assassins. Jarrid and his nephilim brothers are raised as members of The Eternal Order, and must enforce Heaven's laws by hunting down those who defy the Directorate.

His only shot at freedom is Ascension, but his employers won't permit the ancient ritual. Then Jarrid learns a Renegade angel is in Detroit. Such a high-level take-down is the answer to his prayers—all the leverage he needs to Ascend.

For freedom, Jarrid is willing to do anything to lure his elusive enemy out of hiding.

Even use an innocent woman as bait.

News reporter Ionie Gifford has no clue an angel outlaw wants her dead. She agrees to help Jarrid, the enigmatic nephilim with penetrating silver eyes and a worship-worthy body, but only because he accepts her terms. He's her all-access pass into the city's supernatural underworld where she hopes to locate her mother's killer.

Blindsided by Ionie's beauty and tenacity, Jarrid soon finds the eternity-old glacier around his heart thawing. With duty and desire at war within him, he's forced to make a choice—either save Ionie from the trap he snared and stay chained to Heaven, or allow her to become collateral damage.

Review:
The title pretty much says it all. Ionie is Jarrid's bait to trap an angel that has gone on a killing spree. Meanwhile Ionie believes Jarrid needs her help on something she wrote for the paper and in return she would get an exclusive interview with a Nephilim.

Jarrid and his three "brothers" are the only surviving Nephilim in the world, but as a punishment for the sins of their parents they have to fulfill Heaven's dirty jobs, turning them into assassins. Which is kind of silly, considering it's not their fault they were born and since God is all big on forgiveness I don't find the angels all that forgiving.

So Jarrid is hoping by doing this job, he and his brothers finally can get some peace and rest. What he hadn't counted on was being so attracted to the bait. Ionie was supposed to be a means to an end, because Jarrid doesn't do feelings, but somehow Ionie got passed his defenses. I understan that these two are attracted to each other, but these guys always turn into such wussies. They are still fierce when they have to protect their loved ones, but other than that, they are totally whipped, which can get on my nerves.

Jarrid is actually even my least favorite Nephilim. Cain and Nestaron for example are way more fun than him. There are some great one liners that made me grin. Angel Bait was not a bad read, but it certainly isn't anything special either.

Connect with Tricia Skinner:

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Goodreads

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Giveaway: A Gift for Emily (The Emily Stokes Series, #2) by J.P. Galuska

Emily’s life appears to be back on track and she's still in love with Sam. Then the anonymous gifts start showing up on her doorstep from a suitor who has made his presence known, but his identity a secret. After he reveals a twisted plan, her entire family finds themselves in danger. The stalker could be anyone. Emily doesn't know who to trust. Not even her heart.

Connect with J.P. Galuska:

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Goodreads

     

**GIVEAWAY**

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Saturday Series: Lover At Last (Black Dagger Brotherhood Series) by J.R. Ward

Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another....

Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young—just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.

Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions... but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together... finally become one.

Review:

Let's face it, J.R. Ward is simply brilliant. After I read the first chapter of Dark Lover (#1) I was addicted. Now I've finally got to read Lover At Last (#11), I honestly thought their story was going to come after Lover Mine (#8), but no J.R. Ward definitely made us wait. But now it is finally here and it was AWESOME!!!

J.R. Ward has a always managed a great balance of the main story (Blay and Qhuinn), the core story (BDB VS Lessers) and the side stories (which are build ups for the next books). The advantage of this is, we've been following these characters for several books, which makes us understand them better. We can be part of them creating memories and history.

Blay and Qhuinn have come to some kind of impasse. Blay is with Saxton (Qhuinn's cousin) and Qhuinn is having a baby with Layla (even though they aren't really together). These two just keep bumping heads, neither of them willing to give in. Miscommunication and not willing to listen to each other is making it way harder on them than necessary. There were moments I just wanted to slam their heads together for being such idiots.

When these two guys do come together it's explosive, there is nothing sweet and soft going on. It's hard, heavy male on male and if you don't like that then this book is nothing for you. If you don't mind that, then you are definitely in for a treat.

There are some sweet moments. The pure sexual nature is what makes it okay, when soft moments would make it more and Blay claims he's not ready for that. Qhuinn on the other hand is practically starving for intimacy and unconditional love, since it has been denied to him pretty much all his life.

Qhuinn has done a lot of growing in the last year, but still he has trouble coming to terms with himself, about who he is and what he loves. Being an outcast made him rebel and has given him a certain kind of freedom, but still he craves that approval for being good enough and currently that is blocking his happiness.

There are many other crazy unexpected things happening with Blay and Qhuinn and around them, but I can't tell because that would spoil things. You just have to read it and you will fully understand my obsession!

Extra: I'm glad we have more of Wrath than in the previous books. In the last couple of books the focus has been shifting from the core BDB (Wrath, Rhage, Butch,...) to the 'secondary' characters (John, Rehvenge, Payne, Thorment (I know he's core, but he's been absent for a couple of books), Qhuinn and Blay). Sometimes I miss those guys. They are very present in the books, but mostly only when it comes to fights or giving some advice. It feels like LTA (living together apart), they are all living together, but have separate lives. The Sheelans have been even more absent. And now we have Xcor and his Band of Bastards (definitely nothing like Robin Hood and his Merrry Men), Trez and iAm  getting more in the picture, shifting the focus even more. But still the core story stays about the BDB VS the Lessers and now VS Xcor. Click here for an overview of all the news revealed at the Cininatti Event of Lover At Last.

Connect with J.R. Ward:

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Goodreads

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Guest Post (A World Without Books) + Interview with Liz Schulte

As part of her book tour (Orangeberry Book Tours), we today have the wonderful Liz Schulte visiting with us. She'll be telling us about what a world without books would mean (I can't even imagine the horror!!!) and she was even nice enough to answer a couple of questions (find out all her secrets about writing). Now this is all in honor of her debut novel, Secrets, the first installment in the Guardian Trilogy. So let's show her some love people!


A World Without Books
by Liz Schulte

A world without books isn’t a road less traveled by, it is a barren wasteland of dashed dreams and lost inspiration—one where imagination is feared and whimsy is met with suspicion.

A Cat In A Hat would be absurd and Green Eggs and Ham would be seen as nothing but bad. No one would say Goodnight Moon or know Where The Wild Things Are. Charlotte’s Web would just be another spider in a barn and The Diary of a Wimpy Kid might go unread.

Harry Potter would never learn who is and still be living under the stairs. Voldemort would win and Captain Hook persuade Peter Pan. The yellow brick road would stay empty and Dorothy would never meet the Wizard of Oz. The Hunger Games would go unwatched and no one would see Katniss Catching Fire or her Mockingjay pin.

Romeo would never meet Juliet and Pride and Prejudice would go unchecked. Jane Eyre may never find her way to Thornfield Hall and Mrs. Rochester may kill them all. The Importance of Being Ernest would still be unknown and The Dubliners would be on their own. A Hitchhiker would have no guide to the galaxy and the Lord of the Rings would still be Sauron. The Thirteenth Tale would never be told and Atonement couldn’t be had.

Pet Sematary, The Shining, and It would never frighten a living soul and redemption wouldn’t be found at Shawshank. Gone With The Wind wouldn’t turn curtains into couture and James Bond wouldn’t Die Another Day. The Godfather wouldn’t make an offer that couldn’t be refused and Atticus Finch would never try the case of his life. The world would stay East of Eden and Fear and Loathing would spread far beyond Las Vegas.

While Olivia Martin observed life through her camera, the Abyss gazed back at her.

She discovers mysterious men follow her around, people close to her are dying, and her dreams are no longer her own as she falls head over heels for a perfect stranger.

A chance encounter leads to an obsession that could destroy everything she has ever known or loved. Olivia is about to find out there is a lot she doesn’t know and sometimes what you don’t know can kill you.

Click here to buy on Amazon or Smashwords.

Interview

When and why did you begin writing?
I began writing after a lot of encouragement from my mom. She kept telling me I should try writing so I finally sat down and did it. I think it was 2008. I wrote my mystery novel then I had no idea what to do with it. The traditional method of publishing wasn’t for me, but the more I looked into things the more appealing self-publishing looked to me.

Who or what influenced your writing once you began?

My writer’s group. I was lucky to join a wonderful and supportive group who were in a similar phase in their writing as I was. I have made wonderful friends with these people and they so often inspire me and prop me up with I feel down.

Did writing this book teach you anything and what was it? 

I learn from every book I write. Writing Secrets I learned about pacing and world building. And I also tried something different with this story and wrote from two points of view.

What is your greatest strength as a writer? 

Dialogue. I am good at realistic dialogue.

Can you share a little of your current work with us? 

I am currently working on the second book in my Easy Bake Coven series. The book is called Hungry, Hungry Hoodoo. I will share a piece of that.

I stood in my scorched, hollowed-out yoga studio, turning in a listless circle, too numb to feel. The store front was a wet, smoldering pile of ash and the studio merely a shell.

“Was anyone hurt,” I asked, barely recognizing my own voice. Numb was too small of a word—shell-shocked was more accurate.

“No,” Femi’s voice came from the doorway. I didn’t even know she was here. She prowled around the room silent as death, her green cat eyes collecting every detail. “It happened overnight.”

How did you come up with the title? 

There is a progression in the Guardian Trilogy that is also reflected in the covers. The first book is about exposing all of the secrets being kept and catapulting the main character, Olivia, into a supernatural world.

Can you tell us about your main character? 

Olivia Martin is nice, loyal woman whose life is going pretty well. She loved her family, friends and job, but then she meets two men who began to open up a new world to her which threatens to destroy everything she knows.

How did you develop your plot and characters? 

I did it pretty organically. I let the characters take the lead and I allow the reader to discover what happens as Olivia does.

What was the hardest part about writing this book? 

Making multiple point of views work without being too similar. I originally wrote the book from one POV and then I read it and realized that the story had to be told from both for the reader to fully grasp each character.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? 

I think the message in this series is about finding your place in the world regardless of what others think or where destiny may lead. I think there is also a message about not judging people by what they appear to be.

Can we expect any more books from you in the future? 

Yes. I have 4 more books planned for this year.

When you wish to end your career, stop writing, and look back on your life, what thoughts would you like to have? 

That I put something worthwhile into the world and I brightened strangers lives with my words.

Connect with Liz Schulte:

Website - Twitter - Goodreads

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Cover Reveal: Runes by Ednah Walters

Ednah Walters is coming out with a new book series, called Runes and here is the first look at the cover. It's definitely very intense, with those eyes. The cover is designed by Cora Graphics, you should certainly check out her other work. Especially her before and afters are spectacular, this one is my favorite so far.

This book is going on my to read list. All the mystery intrigues me and now I need to know what is going on with Torin.

Seventeen-year-old Raine Cooper has enough on her plate dealing with her father’s disappearance, her mother’s erratic behavior and the possibility of her boyfriend relocating. The last thing she needs is Torin St. James—a mysterious new neighbor with a wicked smile and uncanny way of reading her.

Raine is drawn to Torin’s dark sexiness against her better judgment, until he saves her life with weird marks and she realizes he is different. But by healing her, Torin changes something inside Raine. Now she can’t stop thinking about him. Half the time, she’s not sure whether to fall into his arms or run.

Scared, she sets out to find out what Torin is. But the closer she gets to the truth the more she uncovers something sinister about Torin. What Torin is goes back to an ancient mythology and Raine is somehow part of it. Not only is she and her friends in danger, she must choose a side, but the wrong choice will cost Raine her life.

Runes will be released on May 20th, 2013.

About the author:
EDNAH WALTERS grew up reading Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys and dreaming of one day writing her own stories. She is a stay-at-home mother of five humans and two American short-hair cats (one of which has ADHD) and a husband. When she is not writing, she’s at the gym doing Zumba or doing things with her family, reading, traveling or online chatting with fans.

Ednah is the author of The Guardian Legacy series, a YA fantasy series about children of the fallen angels, who fight demons and protect mankind. AWAKENED, the prequel was released by Pill Hill Press in September 2010 with rave reviews. BETRAYED, book one in the series was released by her new publisher Spencer Hill Press in June 2012 and HUNTED, the third installment, will be released April 2013. She’s working on the next book in the series, FORGOTTEN.

Ednah also writes New Adult paranormal romance. RUNES is the first book in her new series. She is presently working on book 2, IMMORTALS.

Under the pseudonym E. B. Walters, Ednah writes contemporary romance. SLOW BURN, the first contemporary romance with suspense, was released in April 2011. It is the first book in the Fitzgerald family series. Since then she has published four more books in this series. She's presently working on book six. 

Connect with Ednah Walters:

Website - Facebook - Twitter 

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