Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Flicker & Burn

Hi Inklings!

I’ve returned from my holiday hibernation to bring you a pretty awesome cover reveal and giveaway! T.M. Goeglein, author of Cold Fury, has a super special, two-for-one cover reveal…Cold Fury has been redesigned, as well as the second installment in the Cold Fury trilogy…Flicker & Burn!

Cold Fury in paperback will be released in June 2013 and Flicker & Burn comes roaring onto the scene in August 2013!

FLICKER & BURN

The thrill ride that began in Cold Fury kicks into high gear in Flicker & Burn, as the threats to Sara Jane Rispoli come at her from all directions. She continues the desperate search for her missing family, but this time she’s on the run from creepy beings with red, pulsing eyes and ghostly white skin chasing her through the streets of Chicago in black ice cream trucks – they can only be described as Ice Cream Creatures. They're skeletal and ferocious, hell-bent on catching or killing her, but also a weird link to her family, a clue to where they might be and who has them.

While Sara Jane battles these new pursuers, she learns painful lessons about the phenomenon that possesses her, cold fury. At the same time, she’s uncovering buried secrets about the misdeeds of her family – old murders and blood vendettas – that might be connected to the disappearance of her mom, dad, and brother. The mysteries, violence, and constant state of chasing or being chased could be the undoing of her relationship with handsome Max Kissberg. Despite the love growing between them, Sara Jane can’t tell him the truth about her life, and fears for his safety.

Not only do the Ice Cream Creatures display the grisly amputated finger of her mom to prove their viciousness, and not only does Lucky, the Outfit Boss of Bosses, whistle in Sara Jane for a sit-down with deadly consequences, but her gorgeous cousin, Heather Richards, enters the scene, as well. All that matters to Sara Jane is saving her family and keeping everyone she loves alive and safe. But the forces she encounters, both external and the ones crackling inside of her, fight her every step of the way.

Review: Obsidian

Obsidian (Lux, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Format: Paperback
Source: Book Expo America 2012
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★☆

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes.

Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is.

My first mistake going into Obsidian was expecting it to be the best book I've read! For this reason, it turned out to be a book that just didn't live up to the hype for me. Was it a fun, entertaining, and enjoyable read? Yes, most definitely. Was it OMG THE BEST BOOK EVER!? No, definitely not. While I really liked Obsidian, it did have its share of flaws.

I found that I didn't care for Daemon as much as I thought I would. Yes, he was hot, but he also had a severe case of the all too familiar male-jerk-syndrome. Sorry, but I just didn't fall for it this time. Why, oh why, would Katy be attracted to that? On a more positive note, him being such a jerk did lead to some fantastic interactions between the two! If there was one thing the author did especially right, it was the romance. Despite my dislike for both Katy and Daemon, I couldn't help but get sucked into their romance, snarky comments and all.

While I had multiple issues with the characters in Obsidian, it did feature a well-written, action-driven plot and an original premise. For this reason, I will definitely be checking out the next book, Onyx. Hopefully Daemon's attitude will level out enough for me to fully enjoy it!

Review: The Raven Boys

The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle, #1) by Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. 
Format: ARC
Source: BEA 
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★☆☆

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”
It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

Unfortunately, having enjoyed Maggie's Wolves of Mercy Falls series, I found The Raven Boys to be quite a disappointment. The difference may lie in listening to The Wolves of Mercy Falls series on audiobook verses reading The Raven Boys. Maggie has very gorgeous, beautiful writing, but at times it can be hard to follow. I found myself rereading sections several times just to understand what the heck was going on. Like the Scorpio Races, I almost stopped for this reason. When a book becomes work, I generally don't want to continue. I think I would have enjoyed this much better had I listened via audiobook.

The Raven Boys certainly gets points for originality. I can honestly say it has a story unlike any other. The mystery of it all drove me to push through what was ultimately a good story. I would recommend this book to most people, however, I would strongly recommend listening to it on audio! If you are up for the challenge, give reading it a shot, but it may leave you frustrated and disappointed like me.

Audiobook Review: Pandemonium

Pandemonium (Delirium, #2) by Lauren Oliver
Publisher: Harper Audio
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Sarah Drew
Source: Purchased from Audible
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★★

I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.

If I’ve learned to expect one thing from Lauren Oliver, it’s unbearable cliffhangers!  When you read Pandemonium I can almost guarantee you, like me, will end up begging for the next book!

Pandemonium was a slow start for me. At the beginning I felt that it just didn’t compare to the first book. Boy did I change my mind during the second half!! Just as Delirium was emotion filled, Pandemonium certainly had its moments as well. There were a few particular scenes that I struggled with… If you’ve read this you probably have an idea of what I’m talking about. The story wasn’t completely focused on emotion, however. There was plenty of action to keep me satisfied as well, even more so than the first book. 

Many new characters were introduced into Lena’s story. The character I found most intriguing, like many others, was Julian. I loved the contrast between the two: how each of them came from different backgrounds but managed to work together. I loved watching the suspicion between them melt away as they learned to trust one another!

I enjoyed Pandemonium just as much, if not better, than Delirium. The characters, action, and turn filled plot left me begging for more. As I mentioned earlier, be prepared for yet another cliffhanger! Yes, I am still recovering from it! Be sure to check out the Delirium series: Delirium, Pandemonium, and Requiem (coming March 2013)!

YA Kindle Deals Under $5: 11/12/12

Hi Inklings!

Here you'll find some of the best Kindle deals available. Some books are well known and some are hidden gems that I've found, but ALL books below have 4+ star ratings on Amazon.  What works better for lifting the spirit than finding some great books for cheap!? Beware: This is quite a sizable list and may take a bit to load!

Here are my featured deals for the week:

All of the titles below have 4+ star ratings or are from popular series on Amazon.com.

FREE!

In My Mailbox (20) & Weekly Recap 11/10/12

I decided to give this Weekly Recap thing a shot. I think it’s a genius idea, but if you guys think it’s lame, be sure to let me know in the comments! Here’s what you might have missed this past week:

Weekly Recap

SUNDAY
November TBR List

TUESDAY 
 Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Book Covers
YA Kindle Deals Under $5: 11/6/12

THURSDAY
Audiobook Review: Delirium

FRIDAY
Inkling Inquiries: Why Do You Blog?
 
{FAVORITES} Blog Posts:
- Two Bloggers Find Love in a Sears Commercial – GalleyCat
- One Stop Publicity Resource – Making The Grade Reviews

In My Mailbox

FOR REVIEW	PURCHASED

Inkling Inquiries: Why Do You Blog?

I’ve been thinking about blogging a lot lately! Not about content, or graphics, or increasing readership, but the most important question of all: why do I do it? It’s funny how you can get in a routine, and forget the very reasons you do things to begin with. I decided to take some time and assess what keeps me coming back for more. Here are just a few of the reasons I blog:

1. A PLACE TO BELONG, A HOME The book blogging community is a wonderful thing to be a part of. I learn something new everyday from the fantastic members and their blogs. From day 1 the community welcomed me. They opened themselves up to my questions, offered advice, and mentored me to become the blogger I am today. All in all, if I was to stop blogging, the number one thing I would miss would be the people. I’m so thankful for each and every one of you who has stopped by to comment, read a post, or even just offered a kind word. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

2. ME TIME Blogging offers me a creative outlet. It’s something that is inherently mine! Blogging has become “that thing” that makes me special and unique. My opinion matters to someone, somewhere.

3. A ROUTINE Blogging gives me something that I can consistently improve on. It is something that I can shape and mold, much like art. I don’t have much of a goal for my blog except to improve a bit every post. Blogging attempts to be is a routine. It is healthy for me, someone who rarely sticks with a hobby for longer than a few weeks, to have been blogging for almost 2 years. I think I have hobby ADD, but blogging just seemed to stick! It shows I do have the dedication and drive to commit to something I am passionate about! And that, my friends, builds confidence.

4. SPREAD THE LOVE I love books. Obviously. And, really, who doesn’t love sharing their opinion? Inklings Read has become a place where I can recommend books to an unlimited audience. There’s something quite grand in that thought!

TAG YOU’RE IT! I invite you all to write a post, or comment below, about why you blog and what drives you to continue! I’d love to hear your thoughts! Please post a link in the comments so that I can stop by and check it out.

Audiobook Review: Delirium

Delirium (Delirium, #1) by Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperTEEN
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Sarah Drew
Source: Purchased from Audible
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★★

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now.

Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

Delirium is one of those books that I had no interest in reading initially. The plot seemed a bit too familiar and sounded as if it could easily go wrong. Then came the gushing reviews from my fellow bloggers. So what did that make me do? Naturally, I put off reading it even longer (I've since learned to listen to them)! Eventually I gave in and now I can’t believe how I could put off reading such a fantastic book!

 Delirium contained all my favorite elements: A bit of action, a pinch of  mystery, a killer ending, and a romance seemingly doomed from the start. Yet, even in the face of that doom, the main character, Lena, maintained hope. There's just something about underdog characters like Lena that I love. They manage to both inspire and intrigue me. Up against all odds, will they make it or break it? You'll have to read this one to find out!

Delirium evoked all kinds of emotions: anger, sadness, love, and hope to name a few. Expect a rollercoaster! While, yes, this is a very emotional book, it has none of the fluff that one might expect from reading the blurb. There is legitimate thought and meaning in Delirium! Yes, it is about love, but there is so much more to it!

Don't be like me and put off reading Delirium! Life's too short to miss out on the good ones!

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Book Covers

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. For a list of past and future topics, check it out here.

YA Kindle Deals Under $5: 11/6/2012

Hi Inklings!

Here you'll find some of the best Kindle deals available. Some books are well known and some are hidden gems that I've found, but ALL books below have 4+ star ratings on Amazon.  What works better for lifting the spirit than finding some great books for cheap!? Beware: This is quite a sizable list and may take a bit to load!

Here are my featured deals for the week:

All of the titles below have 4+ star ratings or are from popular series on Amazon.com.

FREE!

November TBR List

Can you believe it’s November already!? October was such a crazy busy month for me work wise. There was little time open for blogging. Lucky for me, things are beginning to wind down a bit with the approaching holidays, so hopefully I can make up for my absence!

Now to the topic at hand: My To-Be-Read list for this month! There so many great books I’ve been wanting to read lately. Decisions, decisions… At the moment, I’m about halfway through The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater and really enjoying it! Check out the other books in my TBR pile for this month, in no specific order:

DESTINED (HOUSE OF NIGHT, #9) by P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast	THE MAGICIANS (THE MAGICIANS, #1) by Lev Grossman
BLACK CITY (BLACK CITY, #1) by Elizabeth Richards	MYSTIC CITY (MYSTIC CITY, #1) by Theo Lawrence
UNWHOLLY (UNWIND, #2) by Neal Shusterman	HOUNDED (IRON DRUID CHRONICLES, #1) by Kevin Hearne
KISS OF FROST (MYTHOS ACADEMY, #2) by Jennifer Estep	DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT (DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE, #2) by Laini Taylor

What’s at the top of YOUR list for the month!?

Review: Remembrance

Remembrance (Transcend Time, #1) by Michelle Madow
Publisher: Dreamscape Publishing
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased at Author Signing 
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★☆

Lizzie Davenport has been reincarnated from Regency Era, England ... but she doesn't know it yet.

Then Drew Carmichael transfers into Lizzie's high school at the beginning of the year, and she feels a connection to him, almost like she knows him. She can't stop thinking about him, but whenever she tries talking with him about the mysteries behind her feelings, he makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with her. Reaching him is even more difficult because she has a boyfriend, Jeremy, who has started to become full of himself after being elected co-captain of the varsity soccer team, and her flirtatious best friend Chelsea starts dating Drew soon after his arrival. So why can't she get him out of her mind?

Even though Lizzie knows she should let go of her fascination with Drew, fighting fate isn't going to be easy

Remembrance is a beautiful tale of a love that transcends time. Not only is this story addicting, but it features an extremely relatable main character: Lizzie.

We’ve all been there: Caught between our own happiness and that of another. How do you choose? Lizzie has to face this dilemma several times in Remembrance. Does she hurt her best and most loyal friend? Does she break her boyfriends heart? This dilemma made Lizzie one of the most relatable characters I’ve encountered in awhile. Even though Lizzie was an extremely well-written and well developed character, I found other characters to be flat and one dimensional: Jeremy, for example.

What frustrated me about Jeremy is that we only saw one side of him: the jerk side. It would have been much easier to understand why everyone loved him had we seen a glimpse of his old self. I just couldn’t understand why everyone defended his actions when he was clearly no good for Lizzie! Seriously guys, he treated her like crap! I like my antagonists to have more than one facet to their personalities, so I found Jeremy lacking.

On a more positive note, there is one thing that could easily have gone wrong, but didn’t: The flashbacks. Too often I read books featuring flashbacks that are confusing, misplaced, and serve little to no purpose to the plot. Michelle did a fantastic job inserting a few well placed flashbacks that were actually functional. 

Remembrance was a quick, satisfying read that left me wanting to know more about Drew and Lizzie’s history together. Luckily, there is a short story, Vengeance, to hold me over until I can get my hands on Timeless. Don’t miss out on this romantic, feel-good, story!

Feature and Follow Friday (11)

Q: What is a deal breaker for you in a book? For example, do you abhor love triangles? Or can’t deal with bad editing?

This is a hard one for me since so many things can put me off from a book.  Here are some of the my top picks:

- Underdeveloped/one-dimensional characters: This is especially bad if it is the main character…
- Bad editing: Not that I claim to have perfect grammar or punctuation (I definitely don’t)… Unfortunately this is why I’ve begun to avoid many self-published books.

Usually there are redeeming qualities that help me get through a book with one of the above, so these aren’t necessarily deal breakers, but more frustrations.

How about you guys!? What are your book deal breakers?

Review: The Lost Prince

The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten, #1) by Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: eGalley
Source: NetGalley  
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★★

Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’d dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

Julie is an author that, no matter the topic, I will always love her books. Yes, you may even call me a fangirl. I can always count on her rich, beautiful settings and unforgettable characters. The Lost Prince is no exception.

The Lost Prince is a book that, despite being a spinoff of The Iron Fey series, can be read without reading through the original books. I do, however, strongly recommend reading The Iron Fey series first. Not only are they fantastic books, but they will definitely help fill in some plot gaps for unfamiliar readers.

For those who have read The Iron Fey series, do you remember Meghan’s tiny, little brother, Ethan from the first book? Yeah, he’s all grown up now and shirtless on the cover! Seeing him at a young age and seeing him grown are two opposite sides of the spectrum! I loved the contrast between the two. The fey have tortured him his entire life, so I can completely understand his broodiness and complex personality. You can tell Julie really took the time and effort to develop his character!

The Lost Prince features some fantastic action scenes and quirky characters! I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship between Ethan and Kerrian. It was vaguely reminiscent of Ash and Puck. So if you’ve liked the banter between those two in the past, you will definitely find some entertainment here. I’ll be honest and say I really wanted a glimpse at the present day life of Ash and Meghan. Luckily The Lost Prince delivered. While the story doesn’t revolve around them, there are still some beautiful scenes between the two. I didn’t know it was possible to miss two fictional characters so much… Special thanks to Julie for not leaving them in the dust.

The Lost Prince is nothing short of a showstopper! It has proven itself to be just as engaging and exciting as the The Iron Fey series. I have no doubts that it will continue to meet or even surpass my expectations of the original books. *Impatiently waits for next book*

Review & Tour: Of Blood and Bone

Of Blood and Bone (The Minaldi Legacy, #1) by Courtney Cole
Publisher: Lakehouse Press
Format: eGalley
Source: Kismet Book Tours
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★☆

Luca Minaldi is powerful, rich and mesmerizing. But he is also a reclusive enigma. He lives in Malta, a fairytale-like place filled with sunshine and sea, beauty and secrets. And Luca’s darkest of secrets is the best kept of them all.

Eva Talbot is spending the summer in Malta to finish up her doctoral dissertation. When she meets Luca, a mysterious and handsome shipping magnate, there is an instant attraction. He has a disturbing and beautiful energy that she has never felt before. But she senses the darkness that lives within him.

Eva is hired to care for his mother, a woman who suffers from dementia, but it is Luca who Eva will eventually risk everything to save. She desperately wants to reach inside of him and fix what is broken, while at the same time, she knows that she is falling for him. Her life becomes a swirling chaos of darkness and romance, of secrets and mystery. And the question that emerges will become the most important answer of all.

Can she save Luca from the darkness that plagues him without losing herself?

The answer is a matter of life or death.

Oozing mystery, suspense, and intrigue, Of Blood and Bone by Courtney Cole makes for a perfect Fall read! While this is certainly not for young adults, it is definitely worthy of being reviewed here at Inklings Read!

Courtney does a fantastic job of teasing the readers in this book with the fantastic plot and steamy romance! She slowly reveals bits and pieces of information, but only enough to keep you guessing. I loved that she chose to write this story using multiple POVs! That extra peek into the mind of the characters really enhanced the story. Not to mention that layout was great for a dark, suspenseful book like this.

I could not help but fall under Luca's spell right along with Eva. Not only was he a perfect gentleman, but he was also well off, sophisticated, and protective. All great traits in my book! The erotic (yes, erotic!) and romantic scenes between the two of them were perfect! I would never have guessed that this was Courtney's first adult book!

Of Blood and Bone was a surprisingly quick read for me. I was finished in a day! Just one freaking day! When I say this book was addicting that is a slight understatement. I devoured this book! I highly, highly, highly, recommend it to my adult followers. I cannot wait to see what comes next in the second installment of The Minaldi Legacy!

*Special thanks to Kismet Book Tours and Courtney Cole for allowing me to be part of this tour!*

YA Kindle Deals Under $5: 10/8/12

Happy October everyone!! I don't know about you, but I'm definitely ready for the cool fall weather. I hope you all have been well! It's been so long, once again, since I've posted anything. It's been a busy work month prepping for yet another Wegmans grand opening. Sunday, October 28th the Crofton, MD Wegmans will open its doors to the public! Be sure to stop in if you live in the area. It's always a great time! Now onto what you guys are really here for: The Deals!

Here you'll find some of the best Kindle deals available. Some books are well known and some are hidden gems that I've found, but ALL books below have 4+ star ratings on Amazon. Let's admit it: Mondays can be a little... draining on the soul. So what works better for lifting the spirit than finding some great books for cheap!? Beware: This is quite a sizable list and may take a bit to load!

Here are my featured deals for the week:

All of the titles below have 4+ star ratings or are from popular series on Amazon.com.

FREE!

Audiobook Review: Hidden (Firelight, #3)

Hidden (Firelight, #3) by Sophie Jordan
Publisher: HarperTEEN
Narrator: Therese Plummer
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased from Audible
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★★

Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.

The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control. As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning....

Loyalties are tested and sacrifices made in the explosive conclusion to Sophie Jordan's Firelight trilogy.

Hidden was an easy 5 stars for me! It was action-packed, character driven, and epic. I’m a sucker for epic-our-world-could-end-right-now stories and this one certainly did not disappoint.

Hidden picked up where the last book, Vanish, left off. Holding nothing back, Hidden delved right back into the intense action and fantastic plot. I was excited to meet several new characters, one of which I found very intriguing! If you’ve read the book, you probably know who I’m talking about. While most of the ends were tied up in this book, I would love to see another book or novella specifically featuring my new character of interest. I feel like there could be another great story surrounding him.

As I said, Sophie Jordan did a great job resolving this book! She wasn’t afraid to kill off characters, so be emotionally prepared for that. There were some very heart-wrenching and emotional points that had me sniffling along with the characters… but even with that, Hidden never slowed. This book will demand your attention and keep it easily with the unbelievable plot twists and revelations. We finally get answers to the biggest questions in the series. Thank goodness because not knowing was killing me!

Hidden is a must read for fans of the series. This is the book where it all comes together! If you haven’t started the series yet (you really shouldn’t have read this review *wink*) you really need to start, because this book made for a phenomenal conclusion to the Firelight series!

Release Note: Of Blood and Bone by Courtney Cole

Buy It From Amazon | Goodreads

As a little boy, Luca Minaldi was told he was a monster.

As an adult, he knows it is true.

He lives in Malta, a fairytale-like place filled with sunshine and sea, beauty and secrets. And Luca’s darkest of secrets is the best kept of them all.

Eva Talbot arrives in Malta for the summer to finish up her doctoral dissertation. When she meets Luca, a mysterious and handsome shipping tycoon, there is an instant attraction, a disturbing and beautiful energy that she has never felt before. But she senses the darkness that lives within him.

Eva is hired to care for his mother, who suffers from dementia, but it is Luca who Eva will eventually risk everything to save. Her life becomes a swirling chaos of darkness and romance, of secrets and mystery. And the question that emerges will become the most important answer of all.

Can she save Luca from the darkness that plagues him without losing herself?

The answer is a matter of life or death

Read more for an excerpt from the book!

In My Mailbox (19)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. This is where you will find the most recent books I have received for review, purchased, etc. All links will take you to the goodreads page!

For Review

The Blessed (The Blessed, #1) by Tonya Hurley Burn For Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian Of Blood and Bone (The Minaldi Legacy, #1) by Courtney Cole

Purchased 

Spark (Elemental, #2) by Brigid Kemmerer

What did you guys get in your mailbox this week!?

Event Recap & Giveaway: Brigid Kemmerer’s Spark Launch Party

Hi Guys! Hope you are all having a fantastic weekend. Not to brag but so far mine has been way past excellent! I was lucky enough to attend Brigid Kemmerer’s Spark Launch party at the Barnes and Noble in Ellicot City, MD today (Brigid told me she would have candy… that’s when I knew I had to go).

After picking up 2 copies of Spark at the register, I settled down in the café area with a delicious Caramel Frappuccino since I was a bit early. Soon enough the announcement I had been waiting for came over the loud speakers. Showtime!

I grabbed a seat in the back row not wanting to block anyone’s view with my height and was lucky enough to meet some awesome bloggers in the process! Alexa Abee, from Writing the Universe and Nadah from Reading, Writing, & Coffee arrived sporting these awesome t-shirts!



I’m only jealous I didn’t think of the idea myself! They were surprisingly stylish! Brigid freaked when she saw them. It was clear she was very touched and blown away by their support. Later, during the discussion, we learned that they actually made her cry! Aww… Alexa and Nadah – You two are awesome!


Brigid proceeded to tell us a bit about Spark and her writing process. I guess, not having ever written a book myself, I didn’t realize how much research went into it! She talked about how she exchanged several emails a week with her local fire chief regarding the book. It was obvious from her discussion the extent of work that went into writing Spark!

Sometimes during the discussion, it was as if I was at a comedy club with the hilarious banter between Brigid and her husband, Michael. Those two were a trip and definitely kept us entertained. She also read an excerpt from Spark involving a house fire! It made me want to pick the book up as soon as I got home. I think Carnival of Souls would have been a bit jealous though…

Then came the prizes! That’s right, you heard me, PRIZES! Brigid had several gift cards to give away to some lucky attendees. Unfortunately I didn’t win anything, but how cool is that!?

And lastly, was the signing. I picked up a copy for myself and one to give away to you guys! You can enter to win using the rafflecopter form below. Overall it was a fantastic time! Hope she will do the same when book three, Spirit, releases.

Special thanks to Brigid for having us at the party and to Amber from The Musings of ALMYBNENR for letting me know about this great event!

Giveaway

PRIZE: A signed paperback copy of Spark (Elemental, #2) by Brigid Kemmerer

SPARK (ELEMENTAL, #2)
BY BRIGID KEMMERER

Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can’t. Like the fire that killed his parents.

Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he’s not doing it.

More than Gabriel’s pride is at stake -- this could cost him his family, maybe his life. And no one seems to hear him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Layne understands family problems, and she understands secrets. She has a few of her own.

Gabriel can’t let her guess about his brothers, about his abilities, about the danger that’s right at his heels. But there are some risks he can’t help taking.

RULES: 
- Entrants must be 13 years of age or older!
- This giveaway is open to US followers only.
- The winner will be randomly selected via Rafflecopter and will have 48 hours to respond to my email. If I do not receive a response in that time period another winner will be selected.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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