The Need

Book Review

Title: The Need: An Erotic Thriller 

Author: S.L. Hannah

Rating: ★★★

Date Published: August 25, 2015

Publisher: The Adventures of Hannah-Concept Publishing

Connect with the Author: Website, FB, Twitter, Instagram

Buy Me! Amazon, B&N, Book Depository

Add me on Goodreads: The Need

Synopsis:

Stood up by her boyfriend, she goes home with a woman… 

Straight-laced coed Angie has never felt daring enough to…experiment. Until tonight. The skin around Heather’s lips is soft, unlike the stubble Erik lets grow in, and the night unfolds like an erotic dream, tapping into an unexplored part of Angie’s body and mind. 

But Heather’s seduction turns into a nightmare when Angie wakes up tied to the bed and is told she can’t leave. Alternately seduced and tormented by her lover-turned-captor, Angie is pulled ever deeper into a twisted world of pain-for-pleasure and voyeuristic exploits. As the stakes rise, both women give into a desire for connections neither has had, and Angie’s struggle to escape becomes a bigger dilemma: Would she leave if she could? 

Winner of the Golden Palm Contest for New Adult Romance, this erotic thriller dares to explore the darker side of our fantasies and their sometimes unintended consequences.

My Thoughts:

The author was very kind and send me a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.

Angie has been stood up by her boyfriend so, when the woman she’s been staring at all night comes up to her and buys her a drink she doesn't decline. After a few drinks she decides to go home with her something she has never done. They have an amazing night, but when Angie wakes up to go home she is met with a completely different version of the woman she met at the bar; as she tries to leave she begins to feel dizzy and faints when she wakes up again she is tied to a bed and her lover turned captor refuses to let her go. 

This was the first erotic thriller I've ever read and it was very enjoyable and creepy, but I did have some minor problems with it. I'm going to start with what I enjoyed and work our way to what I didn't like so much. I really liked the LGBT in this book, the way Angie was finding herself and getting to know this new part of her that she was never brave enough to explore by herself. I also really liked the way Heather and Angie took care of each other of course when Heather wasn't being a complete psycho. The one thing that bothered me the most was that Angie didn't fight heather much when she found out she was holding her against her will, it’s like she immediately felt sorry for her captor and started making excuses for her behavior and the reason she was keeping her there. Also Hannah hit me with a twist that I was not expecting and I really liked that, it explained so much of Hannah's behavior, but then she hit me with another twist in the ending that left me with some unanswered questions. Overall it was a very enjoyable read that kept me in the edge of my seat until the very end and Hannah's writing keeps you turning the pages.  

-SandraTheBookWorm

Fire Falling

Book Review

Title: Fire Falling (Air Awakens #2)

Author: Elise Kova

Rating: ★★★★★

Release Date: November 19, 2015

Publisher: Silver Wing Press

Page Count: 378

Genre: YA Fantasy

Connect with the Author: Twitter, FB, Instagram, 

Buy Me! Amazon, B&N, Book Depository

Add me on Goodreads: Fire Falling

Synopsis:

Soldier… Sorcerer… Savior… Who is Vhalla Yarl?

Vhalla Yarl marches to war as property of the Solaris Empire. The Emperor counts on her to bring victory, the Senate counts on her death, and the only thing Vhalla can count on is the fight of her life. As she grapples with the ghosts of her past, new challenges in the present threaten to shatter the remnants of her fragile sanity. Will she maintain her humanity? Or will she truly become the Empire’s monster?

Fire Falling is the second book in the Air Awakens Series.

My Thoughts:

The author was kind enough to send me an ARC of her book in exchange for an honest review.

This book went beyond my expectations it was such an amazing and emotional read; five starts is not nearly enough for this novel. I loved the first one, but I adored the sequel. Vhalla is going to war and now belongs to the crown while Aldrik assures his father that she will bring victory to the Solaria Empire the Senate is sure they're sending her to her death. 

This novel had me up till three in the morning because I could not put it down and when I did finally decide to go to bed as soon as I woke up, I got right back into it; I needed to know what was going to happen and now that I'm done reading it, I wish it was February so I can dive back into the amazing world Kova has created. I can't get enough of her characters especially Vhalla and Aldrik, I loved how Aldrik opened up so much more for Vhalla and we got to see and learn so much more about him. I'm glad that we also got to see a lot of the characters that we only had a glimpse of in the first book. I love how the story is developing and how Vhalla is learning more about herself and her powers as the book progresses. This novel had me in an emotional roller-coaster and towards the end of that ride I was an emotional wreck and I didn't even care! Kova’s writing is amazing! I love this series and can't wait to see where Kova is going to take us in the next novel, which I really wish I had in my hands like yesterday. If you haven't picked this amazing series up, I highly recommend it is so good and everyone needs to read it!

-SandraTheBookWorm

Cover Reveal and Giveaway!!

I'm so thrilled to share the cover of the third book in the Air Awakens series Earth's End! The second novel in the series Fire Falling will be released November 19, 2015 and Earth's End will be released February 11, 2016. This series has become one of my favorites! If you have yet to pick up this series, I highly recommend it!

Buy Air Awakens!

Preorder Fire Falling! Release Date November 19, 2015

About The Author

Elise Kova has always had a passion for storytelling. She wrote her first novella, a high-fantasy, in sixth grade. Over the years she’s honed her love of literature with everything from fantasy to romance, science fiction to mystery, and whatever else catches her eye.

Elise lives in Saint Petersburg, Florida, where she’s currently working on the next installment in her debut YA fantasy series: Air Awakens. She enjoys video games, anime, table-top role playing games, and many other forms of “geekdom.” She loves talking with fans on Twitter (@EliseKova) and Facebook. Visit her website, EliseKova.com, for news and extras about her books!

Enter Giveaway!

Author Elise Kova will be giving away an Air Awakens Swag Bag! That will include:

Air Awakens “Shatter the Sky” Canvas Bag
Silver Wing Earrings
Signed Paperback of Air Awakens OR Fire Falling
Signed Air Awakens Postcard
Signed Air Awakens, Fire Falling, and Earth’s End Bookmark Set

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My review for Air Awakens
My review for Fire Falling will be live Monday, November 16, 2015!

-SandraTheBookWorm

The Reluctant Sacrifice

Book Review

Title: The Reluctant Sacrifice

Author: Kerr-Ann Dempster

Rating: ★★★★★

Date Published: August 7, 2015

Page Count: 327 

Genre:YA Paranormal/Fantasy

Connect with the Author: Website,FB, Twitter, Instagram

Buy Me! Amazon, B&N

Add me on Goodreads: The Reluctant Sacrifice

Synopsis:

Centuries ago, sibling rivalry tore Aramith apart. As punishment, the losers were stripped of their immortal birthright and banished to Earth. There, they wasted away from old age and diseases. However, there is hope… 

If a Shaw child, born on the 12th day of the 12th month offers her soul in a public sacrifice, then the exiles will be forgiven and welcomed home to Aramith. 

Aubrey Shaw is that child, but dying for the exiles is not on her to-do list. Using her gift as a Jumper, Aubrey leaps between bodies to escape relentless shape-shifting hunters. Only, shedding her skin is not enough. Not when Joshua, her best-friend-turned-hunter, is hell-bent on dragging her to the altar. 

Will Aubrey’s love for Joshua change his mind? 

Or, will she have to trust the scarred stranger who shows up out of the blue cloaked in lies and secrets? Doing so means giving up on Joshua. But betting on Joshua's love could do more than break her heart. 

It could kill her.

My Thoughts:

The author was kind enough to send my a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.

This amazing book left me craving for a sequel, please tell me the story continues! I need more Aubrey and Coy in my life as well as Joshua and Tessa! Aubrey has been on the run from her father since she was named the sacrifice that is going to save her people and restore their immortality, but Aubrey is not ready to die. Aubrey is able to jump her soul through bodies and has been using that power to evade her father’s shape-shifting hunters, but her best-friend Joshua has become their leader and knows exactly how she thinks and they have finally found her.

I loved this novel the paranormal aspect was perfect and Kerr-Ann’s writing kept me up to the wee hours of the night, I just wanted to finish the book and know what happened; I could not get enough of her book, like I said above I'm really hoping for a sequel. The way the characters were writtem made them so likable and easy to connect with; I loved the way our heroin Aubrey could jump bodies, but when she did she lost a part of herself, it made her power seem all that more real; I really liked how brave Aubrey was she did doubt herself at times, but it just made her character that more relatable and made her seem more human. Aubrey's best-friend was so well written she was always there for her and you could tell she really cared for her and I freaking loved her sassiness. Now for the boys Joshua I really wanted to hate him at times, but I just couldn't; I knew he cared for Aubrey, but the love he had for Aubrey's sister and his hope that she would change for the better clouded his judgement and his power was to die for. Oh, Coy what can I say he's the guy that all the girls swoon for, I loved his protectiveness over Aubrey it didn't go over board and he always respected her and her feelings even though he was dying to have her in his arms, he was a true gentleman. This book was very enjoyable, I loved everything about it the characters, the paranormal aspects and the way Kerr-Ann describes the shape-shifting of the hunters and when Aubrey jumps bodies it was so well described I could see it happening right in front of me. If you have not picked this book up yet, you definitely should!

-SandraTheBookWorm

Interview With the Awesome Deanna Dee

Deanna Dee

Preorder Finish Him

Amazon

This year Deanna contacted me to review one of her books "One Fling to Rule Them All" and I'm so glad I did! It was so different from your normal romance and I absolutely love it! Now she is releasing the last companion novel to her series "Finish Him" and I couldn't be more thrilled. She was kind enough to let me Interview her! Thank you so much Deanna I had so much fun reading your responses! It's always so fun working with you.

1. In your own words, please describe the book.

Finish Him is the third book in my Games of Love series. It’s about two twenty-somethings (Sonya and Jaxon) who find love through gaming and some other stuff. It’s also about Sonya’s relationship with her older sister and her quest to find herself. And there’s some geek references thrown in there for good measure.

2. What genre/genres does your book fall under?

Excellent question. I’m still figuring that out myself. The age of the characters puts it at new adult, but the heat level is low for what new adult romance usually has. I enjoy calling it “geek romance,” but that’s not quite its own thing yet. So if anyone has any suggestions, let me know. J

3. What was your inspiration behind your book?

I read Ready Player One by Ernest Cline and loved it. The geek references spoke to me. Combine that with never feeling like I’d found a romance written about “me” (the quirky sidekick), and I wanted to take the geek of RPO and combine it with the romance about the girls usually cast as the brainiac sister or spunky best friend. Ta-da, Finish Him and its siblings were born.

4. So far, what has been the greatest moment in your writing career?

Hitting “publish” on the first book in the series. I’ll never forget the feeling of knowing I’d seen the project through from start to finish and actually put it into the world for people to read.

5. How did you come up with the title of your book?

Finish Him focuses a lot on video games. The phrase” finish him” is one used in a lot of arena fighting games as the signal for one player to finish off another. “Completing” someone is a common thing in romance. “Complete” and “finish” are similar. Geek romance, complete, finish…Finish Him. Done.

6. How long does it take you to finish a novel?

I can write a rough draft in a month if I really motivate myself. The entire process (chapter 1 to publish) is usually between 3 and 6 months—draft, two or three rounds of edits, beta, edits, editor, final edits, format, upload.

7. If there was one thing you could tell your readers, what would it be?

I’d welcome them to my corner of insanity and thank them for stopping in.

8. How can readers connect with you?

I can be found at the following haunts.

 Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Join me at these various locations for book stuff, geek stuff, and romance stuff.

9. What advice do you have for aspiring young authors?

Two things. First, keep writing. You can’t edit a blank page. Second, get some kind of training, whether it’s a workshop or reading how-to books. Lots of people have natural talent, but natural talent only goes so far. Put the extra initiative into your career. It will pay off.

10. Can you tell us something about the writer behind the book?

She likes to talk in the third person. Also, she lives for good times with good people, 65 degree sunny days, and blue skies.

My Review For One Fling to Rule Them All

-SandraTheBookWorm

Mirror Mirror

Book Review

Title: Mirror Mirror

Author: Several

Rating: ★★★.5

Date Published: September 10, 2015

Page Count: 194

Buy Me! Amazon

Add me on Goodreads: Mirror Mirror

Synopsis:

Five stories, five mirrors, and a solid dash of fantasy combine to make this collection a Halloween treat.

Meet...

Fiona as she grapples with an overactive imagination or accepts that the mirror she's inherited truly is cursed in "The Covered Mirror."

Jean as she struggles with the grief of losing a loved one while a treasured gift from her past takes on a shocking new life of its own in "On Wings of Steel."

Grace as an ominous environment and odd occurrences push her with increasing urgency to question her past and her future in "The Girl in the Mirror."

Young Anders as he suffers the pangs of first love lost and learns exactly how clever some video games can be in "Magick Mirror."

And the talented painter Tori as she helps a lost soul find a solution to a decades old dilemma and discovers love along the way in "The Antique Mirror."

Mirror, Mirror offers a wonderful introduction to five fantasy authors, but each of these stories is also a self-contained adventure for readers to enjoy

My Thoughts:

The Author of Antique Mirror provided me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This Novel is a collection of five short stories that all revolve around mirrors. I really enjoyed the stories, they were the perfect Halloween reads and I really enjoyed that they centered around mirrors it was very different from my usual reads. As much as I did enjoy reading these short stories there was a couple of stories that I had a minor problem with, I just felt like the story was lacking something it felt like it was not finished, but the rest of the stories in the book really made up for them. This collection is the perfect Halloween light read, I loved the paranormal mirror aspect. So, if you're in the mood for some paranormal or just a light read between books, this is definitely it. I will give each story their individual rating below.

1. The Covered Mirror by: Kate Baray ★★
2. On Wings of Steel by: Steve Statham ★★★★★
3. The Girl in the Mirror by: S.R. Bond ★★★
4. Magick Mirror by: M.G. Herron ★★★★
5. Antique Mirror D.F. Jones ★★★★★

-SandraTheBookWorm

Air Awakens

Book Review

Title: Air Awakens (Air Awakens #1)

Author: Elise Kova

Rating: ★★★★★

Date Published: August 27, 2015

Publisher: Silver Wing Press

Page Count: 377

Genre: YA Fantasy

Connect with the Author: Website, Twitter, Instagram, FB

Buy Me: Amazon, B&N, Book Depository

Add me on Goodreads: Air Awakens

Synopsis:

A library apprentice, a sorcerer prince, and an unbreakable magic bond...

The Solaris Empire is one conquest away from uniting the continent, and the rare elemental magic sleeping in seventeen-year-old library apprentice Vhalla Yarl could shift the tides of war.

Vhalla has always been taught to fear the Tower of Sorcerers, a mysterious magic society, and has been happy in her quiet world of books. But after she unknowingly saves the life of one of the most powerful sorcerers of them all—the Crown Prince Aldrik—she finds herself enticed into his world. Now she must decide her future: Embrace her sorcery and leave the life she’s known, or eradicate her magic and remain as she’s always been. And with powerful forces lurking in the shadows, Vhalla’s indecision could cost her more than she ever imagined.

My Thoughts:

The author was kind enough to send me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, where do I even start this book was amazing! I loved every second of it! I can’t believe this is a debut novel Elise is such a brilliant writer and I'm so glad my friend Cassandra from cassandrareadsalot introduced me to this book; it has become one of my favorite series and I can't wait to dive into the second one. Vhalla Yearl is an library apprentice and she loves it, one day she is taken  to The Tower were the Sorcerers live, people who she has been taught to fear since she was young and she is told she is one of them. Now Vhalla has to decide if she wants to join the people she has always feared or continue to be a library apprentice and be normal and while she has this very hard choice to make the dark and mysterious Prince Aldrik is not making her decision any easier. 

Gosh, like I said in the beginning this book is amazing, I love everything about it! Vhalla is such a likable character and I loved the character development that she goes through in the book, she goes from a timid apprentice to a bad ass girl that will not let anyone mess with her; Oh, and the mysterious Prince Aldrik since before I knew who he was, I was already so intrigued and obsessed with him; as I read I also understood why he is so apprehensiveness about putting his guard down and letting people in, I also loved his sarcastic sense of humor he was just so perfect and I can't wait and see if book two reveals more about our dark, handsome prince.  I loved Elise's writing once I began to read the book I couldn’t put it down; it just draws you into this amazing world of magic and introduces you to characters that you wish you could pull out from the pages. I’m in love with this book and can't wait to see where the story goes; if you have not picked this book up yet, I highly recommend it! It's so good and everyone should read it!

-SandraTheBookWorm