Runes by Ednah Walters & Giveaway (INT)
Runes by Ednah Walters Publication date: May 20th 2013
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
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.
My View: I had been reading so many rave reviews about this book that I decided to check it out. I have never read a Norse mythology book before and even though it did pique my curiosity, there was very little explanation in the book and that had me pining for more.
The plot was new to me since I have never read much of mythology related books. The love triangle theme is a bit old though. Never mind when you have a guy like Torin to drool at, you tend to let a few things lie. The romance was well done.
The characters are well fitting and there are secrets all around which reveal themselves just a bit at a time teasing. The book has a nice pace albeit a few instances felt repeated and could have gotten rid of.
The book ends on a note where you’re left wanting for more.
Overall, with a missing father, a mysterious neighbor, a loving boyfriend and some kick-ass villains, this book makes sure to carry your interest throughout.
Giveaway
2 prize: A choice of signed copy or e-book of Runes and $10 gift card from amazon.
AUTHOR BIO
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. You can visit her online at www.ednahwalters.com or www.ebwalters.com.
Author Links:
Month Wrap Up: April 2013
A little late but here I am. For the month of April, I read 11 books.
I finished reading
I’m in the middle of
Book(s) of the Month
Reviews this month (click on picture to go to the review).
Other exciting posts
And
Don’t forget to enter this amazing giveaway!
WIN 1 YEAR MEMBERSHIP TO WPMU DEV WORTH $219!
Total Books read in April: 11
Books carried over to May: 4
Total Books read this year: 66
Total pages read this year: 14366
How was April for you reading wise?
99 cents Steals!
I have been seeing so many great books for 99 cents that I wanted to share my discoveries with you. Some of them I have read and loved, others I have heard good things about. I have bought most of them. Here are some cheap haul ideas for your bookish addiction. Grab them while you can!
Happy Shopping! 
Top Ten Tips for Going from Zero to Hero by Geoff Herbach
Today we have at Reviewing Shelf, Geoff Herbach, author of I’m With Stupid. I’m With Stupid is the third in the Felton Reinstein trilogy- Stupid Fast
.
Top Ten Tips for going from Zero to Hero
1. Exercise!
2. Eat the foods you love only half the time! The other half, eat lettuce.
3. Read everything, constantly. Not just what you really want to read, but things that stretch you, make you think, see things from different perspectives. Your brain will get big and beautiful and the world will open up like a daffodil on the first seventy-degree day.
4. Go to things: plays, movies, parks, museums, great buildings, friends’ houses, bowling alleys, basketball games, after-midnight rock clubs, barbecues of neighbors you don’t know that well.
5. Remember: this screen you’re looking at isn’t living.
6. Wear good shoes. What a difference.
7. If something peaks your interest, chase the mother. If you like a writer, research that writer and that writer’s influences and then read that writer’s influences and then research the writer who influenced your writer and so on and so on and so on. Complexity, richness, world without end…
8. When someone in the mall or in a car or in the hall at school does something dumb or mean, don’t get angry because dumb and mean is part of the world in which we live. Just say, “Oh well.” Then, go about your business as if it doesn’t matter, because you shouldn’t waste energy on the one billion petty cases dumb and mean.
9. Stand up if dumbness and meanness go beyond petty. If someone is being harmed, stand up. If someone is being degraded, stand up. If someone is harming you, stand up. Spend your energy fighting the right fight.
10. Be kind.
Wow! Love those tips, Geoff. They are so precious and yet some are funny at the same time.
Summary: Felton Reinstein has never been good with stress. Which is why he’s seriously freaking out. Announcing his college choice on national TV?
Which leads to:
1. Mentoring a freshman called Pig Boy.
what’s really important in life.
| The Book Depository
I am the author of the YA title, Stupid Fast (June 2011 from Sourcebooks Fire). I also wrote The Miracle Letters of T. 
Rimberg, a Novel from Three Rivers Press. When I’m not writing books, I’m writing for Radio Happy Hour or developing ridiculous musical bits.When I’m not writing, I’m teaching writing at Minnesota State, Mankato, which means I write a lot of comments about writing on student writing.
Writing a lot of writing and reading about writing and writing on reading.
Love’s Second Chance by L. P. Dover
Synopsis: Korinne Anders had it all. She had the perfect job, the perfect house, and the perfect husband. When tragedy strikes her world takes a devastating turn. Six months after losing her husband to a car accident, Korinne vows it to herself never to love again. If she doesn’t allow another man in her heart, then there’s no reason for her to feel the pain of loss. This plan seems to work, but is then put to the test when Korinne’s best friend can’t stand to see her suffering any longer.
Korinne’s long-time friend, Jenna Perry, has an idea and it involves helping her friend find the spark of life in her soul no matter what it takes. Korinne didn’t know that Jenna’s plan meant bringing back a past love, a second chance with the man that Korinne had to leave in college, but always kept a place for in her heart.
When Galen Matthews learns of Korinne’s loss and that she’s finally moved back home he wants nothing more than to be there for her. The love he felt for Korinne years ago had never left him and now he’s given a second chance to not only mend her heart of her loss, but to also continue the love they shared in the past. Will his love and determination make her strong enough to give fate a second chance, or will her fear of losing another love make her run away?
What will Korinne do when she’s faced with a love so powerful that no matter what she does there’s nowhere to run from it?
Add at Goodreads | Buy at Amazon
My View: This is a sweet but sentimental love story with a steady pace and not many twists and turns.
The book has a simple plot, like-able and familiar characters whom you can identify with and an emotional touch to it all. There are cute romantic moments, sexy scenes and some heart-tugging sad ones too.
I loved the laughs that were thrown in. The cute, simple moments that brought a smile to my face.
The relationships between characters, whether be it friends, a couple or a mother-son relation were brought out very beautifully. There was a next door feel to it and nothing seemed exaggerated or impossible.
The feelings that the characters went through were explored and depicted flawlessly.
Overall, it makes for a good light read.
To be read by 16+ because of the sexual content in the book.
About the Author
I am an avid reader that loves my collection of books. Writing has always been a passion of mine and now I am 
glad that I get to share my passion with the world. I live in North Carolina and I absolutely love being a southern girl. I spent several years in college starting out with a major in Psychology and then switching to dental. I worked in the dental field for eight years and then decided to stay home with my two beautiful girls. I spent the beginning of my reading years reading suspense thrillers, but now I can’t get away from the paranormal/fantasy books. I knew ever since then that if I wrote anything it would be in a paranormal aspect. Now that I have started on my passion and began writing, you will not see me go anywhere without a notebook and pen.
Tantra by Adi
Goodreads Summary: Anu is a leather wearing, no-nonsense professional guardian with a reputation for killing the most dangerous vampires in New York City. But when her enemies murder the one person she truly cared about, all she wants is vengeance. The only clue points to New Delhi, so Anu puts in for a job transfer.
In India, she finds more than she expected. For one thing, her fellow operatives have made a truce with the vampires. For another, it’s way too hot to wear leather.
At first, it seems Anu’s biggest challenge will be evading the nice boys her aunt wants her to marry. But when children start disappearing, she discovers forces older and darker than anything she’s faced before. All of Delhi is in danger, especially the sexy stranger who sets Anu’s pulse racing.
To prepare for the coming battle, Anu must overcome her personal demons and put aside years of training. This time, her most powerful weapon will come from her mind, not her weapons belt.
Add at Goodreads | Buy at Amazon
My View: The book cover and the beginning reminded me of Legend. However, the similarities ended just a few pages into it.
I had this sort of love-hate relationship with this book. I loved the way it started. ‘A vampire read by an Indian author, one of its firsts. And a wow female character at that. This looks like a great read’ was what I was thinking. But well, my happiness didn’t last long.
The vampires gave way to saints, the stake gave way to astras and the book went downhill for me. ‘Alas’, I wondered. ‘If only the book had stuck to vampires and vampire hunters’.
The book also had some uncanny resemblance to Crewel but it is nowhere as good.
But wait, didn’t I say I had a love-hate relationship? Where did the love go then?
Well, I loved the mature writing that scarcely (I have to sadly admit) graces the pages of an Indian authored book. I loved the humor and ended up smiling and laughing out aloud so many times. I really liked the mature characters and the main character of Anu packs a punch, just love her! The chemistry between the characters, be it harmless flirtation, friendly hugs or sparkling sizzlers was just wow.
What I didn’t like was too much Indian-ization of the book which truly wasn’t necessary and would have made a great story without it. Too much of astras, mind-boggling theories and some amount of repetition didn’t go down well with me.
Will I be looking out for the second book in the series? Probably yes, because I see potential in the author. The plot may not have been great but the writing certainly was.
Overall, a great attempt at his first book. But I was left wanting for so much more. A good read, I would say.
3/5 stars – I liked it. 
This review is a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books!
The Dohmestics by Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar
Maria, Maya, and Lillie live in the same compound as their employers but that’s where the similarities begin and end.
There’s never a dull moment for anyone in this desert emirate.
The unending gossip and unrelenting competition may be business as usual for expatriate communities but the unspoken secrets threaten to destroy life as everyone knows it.
Buy it here – Amazon
My View: I digged in since I loved ‘The Help’ but oh well, it is completely different from that one. So full points for originality.
Unlike a closely bound story, this book is more scattered in terms of characters and their various experiences. It gives an insider’s view into the lives of families and their maids and what goes on in their daily life.
I got a bit confused with keeping track of the characters but as I always say, I am ADD so it may not happen to you. The book doesn’t have a huge list of characters anyhow.
It’s a slow moving book that shows the relation between high-class couples, employer and their maid and the relationship between maids.
There are a lot of emotions involved – from desperation to future aims to sorrow. The book ends on a sad note.
You’ll like it if you want an insight into the relationship between employee-employer relationship as related to maids and the feelings involved.
BIO: Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar is a South Asian American who has lived in Qatar since 2005. Moving to the Arabian 
Website | Facebook | Twitter @moha_doha | Goodreads | Pintrest | YouTube
The Sound of Loneliness by Craig Wallwork & Giveaway (INT)
About the book: Manchester in 1991 is a town suffering under the weight of high unemployment and massive government budgetary deficits that is plunging the UK into a recession.
To Daniel Crabtree, a struggling writer, it is the backcloth to his first novel, one that will see him become a famous published author. Living off mostly water and flour, Daniel has embraced penury into his life under the mistaken belief that many young artists have: one needs to suffer for success in art. But Daniel is a terrible writer. In the three years since signing on the dole, of every morning chastising his Irish singing neighbour for waking him from his sleep, and scrounging food from his close friend Henry Soperton, Daniel Crabtree has produced one short story. His heart is bereft of words as much as his pockets are of money.
The Sound of Loneliness is a story of love, and how a poor starving man chasing a dream came to the understanding that amidst the clamour of life, the sound of loneliness is the most deafening of all.
Pick up your copy of this Literary/ Urban Life/ Black Comedy through Amazon US, Amazon UK, or Barnes & Noble.
As usual having not read the blurb, I had no idea what I was getting myself into except for the title and the cover. So imagine my surprise at the raw and in-your-face tone of the book. It goes deep, much deeper than the words on the periphery.
If you give this book time (which is essential especially if you, like me, love a speedy read instead of one that barely moves), it evolves into something else entirely. There is this basic, raw feel to it which is kind of strange, even ‘eww’y at times but therein lies the reality, the crux of this book.
The feelings come through so stark naked – the desperation, the make-believe, even the chewing of food is felt. Did I just lost you there? Well, that’s how I felt while reading the book. I kind of got the insanity while at times wanting to slap the main character for his idiocy.
I’m not sure about the sound of loneliness but the book did make me feel so many things. It’s just unlike anything I have ever read. And even though I was tempted to give up a number of times because I am too ADD for slow-moving books, I held on and am glad I did. It was worth it.
The book is deep on so many levels that I hope to re-read it sometime in the near future to derive it all.
Overall, a raw-y, eww-y kind of deep, dark read that makes you fall off the wagon. :-p
Recommended for readers who aren’t looking for a nice, fluffy, happy-go-lucky book.
3.5/5 stars – Between ‘ I liked it’ and ‘I really liked it’. 
About the prizes: Who doesn’t love prizes? You could win either of two $25 Amazon gift cards, an autographed copy of The Sound of Loneliness, or an autographed copy of one of its tour mates, Stranger Will by Caleb J Ross or Angel Falls by Michael Paul Gonzalez. Here’s what you need to do…
- Enter the Rafflecopter contest here.
- Leave a comment on my blog.
That’s it! One random commenter during this tour will win a $25 gift card. Visit more blogs for more chances to win–the full list of participating bloggers can be found here. The other $25 gift card and the 3 autographed books will be given out via Rafflecopter. You can find the contest entry form linked below or on the official Perfect Edge Trifecta tour page via Novel Publicity. Good luck!
Learn more about The Sound of Loneliness‘s tour mates HERE.
About the author: Craig Wallwork lives in West Yorkshire, England. He is an artist, filmmaker and writer. His 
Resonance by J. A. Belfield & Giveaway (INT)
Release Date: April 2nd 2013
Title: Resonance
Series: Holloway Pack 2.5
Publisher: J. Taylor Publishing
Blurb:
Guilt is a heavy burden for the one carrying it.
Jem Stonehouse is no exception to this rule.
What if she’d acted sooner? What if she’d fully recognised the threat? What if she hadn’t allowed the male pack members to head into the witches’ ambush?
For one, youngest pack member Josh Larsen wouldn’t be trapped in the sleep of the dead.
Now, Jem is convinced it’s her job to bring him back to life no matter what it takes— learning more about her heritage, risking pack exposure, or travelling to places she couldn’t have imagined possible.
Even if the journey endangers her soul.
Disclaimer: Resonance is, by no means, intended to be read as a standalone. If you haven’t read at least Blue Moon, then you will have absolutely no idea what is happening in Resonance. Also, if you haven’t read Blue Moon, then you will be hit upside the head with one massive spoiler for how the book ends if you read Resonance first.
Buy it here - Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | KoboBooks | Add to Goodreads
My View: I read Blue Moon (Holloway Pack#2) last year and really liked it. So as soon as Resonance was in my inbox, I started and finished it within the same day. Yeah, right, I know. I am kind of impatient when it comes to series I love. Even though I hadn’t read either of Instinct (Holloway Pack, #0), Eternal (Holloway Pack, #0.5), Darkness & Light (Holloway Pack, #1), Into The Unknown (Holloway Pack #1.5), Blue Moon worked great as standalone. However, do not mistake that for Resonance. It is not meant as a standalone. You must atleast read Blue Moon first.
Resonance is kind of dark. It’s fast, it’s visual and it’s mind-boggling. The concept is just a little difficult to grab at first but then it sticks to you. I had the movie going on in my head all the time while reading.
The book is such a tease. It almost finished a second after starting. Yes, I felt just like that! I was having a panic attack looking at the inching 100% on my Kindle while going all the time like ‘no, no, no’.
As always, you have to love Jem for her strong headedness, her strength and her perseverance. Love the chemistry and playful banter between Jem and Josh.
And I have no idea how to say something else without giving anything away. It’s frustrating not being able to go ga-ga over something I really liked. So you better read that book quick so we can have a chat.
On a last note (J. A. Belfield, if you’re reading this, I’m done. Go now. Bye.), I wanted to hit the author over her head once I finished reading because by the end, I was craving so much for more of Holloway Pack that it was almost painful. And this short little novella did nothing to quench that thirst for reading more.
4/5 stars - 
Giveaway (INT)
FREE copy of Resonance to everyone who submits a valid entry between April 2nd and May 2nd.
How to enter?
1)
Post a picture of you with your precious copy or Blue Moon somewhere on the Internet.
It does not have to be a hard copy (paperback); it can be the cover image on the screen of your Kindle/e-reader/reading tablet.
Once said picture is posted, link up J.A. Belfield so she can see it. NB: There will be a space in the Rafflecopter form to paste in a link to your pic. If you stick it on Facebook/ Twitter, then be sure to tag J. A. Belfield so she can see your entry. And if you happen to stick it anywhere else, then be sure to forward a link to the post to j.a.belfield72 at gmail.com and include ‘The Big Resonance Giveaway’ in the subject line.
2)
Post a review for Blue Moon.
Any review over 100 words will be accepted, even if it doesn’t rave and include 4/5 stars. However, the author will read each review carefully and ascertain that she believes the book has actually been read rather than a review being composed out of a rewrite of the blurb (yes, this does happen on occasion).
Where you post your review is up to you. On Goodreads. Amazon. B&N. On your blog. Completely up to you. But the Rafflecopter form will have separate entry options for each of these places, and each one will be included as an entry toward the main prize.
About the Author
Best known for her Holloway Pack Stories, J.A. Belfield lives in Solihull, England, with her 
husband, two children, three cats and a dog. She writes paranormal romance, with a second love for urban fantasy.
iPad Mini Giveaway (INT)
one of 2 $25 Amazon gift cards
Enter at http://bestsellingreads.com or Here.
Winners will be chosen April 28th by Rafflecopter.
No purchase necessary but always welcome.
Where have I been?
I don’t know if you noticed I have been missing from the blog. I haven’t posted anything in 6 days which is so unlike me who posts atleast once a day if not more.
Well, for one I haven’t been able to read much the past few days. And even though I have some other posts I wanted to put up, I couldn’t get to it. I missed 3 blog tour posts (which I’ll be doing soon).
There has been a lot going on in my academic/ professional life and I have been a lot busier than usual. Apart from that, my sister’s marriage is just a month away, so every spare minute and especially weekends go into that. I hardly get any breathing time.
And even though my commute timing to and fro from work has been scheduled for reading, I haven’t been able to read lately. There are some things on the personal front that have been bugging me and I’m kind of worried, depressed really. Yeah, right, I’m a Psychologist and should know how to cope. That’s exactly what I have been doing the past few months. But somehow when every sphere of your life attacks at once, it’s sometimes difficult to deal with it all. I have been trying but I’m feeling overwhelmed at the moment. I’m not sure if I should be saying all this in here, it’s a book blog and not a personal one. But I feel I know so many of you intimately even though we have never met that I just wanted to share what’s been going on with me.
Thanks for hearing me out. I have a couple of books started, hopefully I will get some of them finished soon and be back to my chirpy, bubbly, insane self. Love you all!
Stranger Will by Caleb J. Ross & Giveaway (INT)
About the book: The child he loves. The idea of a child, he’s beginning to understand, is where everything will go wrong.
William works as a human remains removal specialist, removing stains left by the dead. Whether by a bloody crime scene or a quiet domestic death, William is reminded each day of the frailty of human life. As his fiancée, Julie, nears term with their first child William becomes increasingly desperate for a way to overcome his belief that to birth is to kill. But Mrs. Rose, an elementary school principal and messenger pigeon hobbyist, nurtures William’s depressive outlook and claims to have a way to prove that William’s hesitancy to accept fatherhood is not only natural but necessary.
In this novel of impending fatherhood, an idealistic teacher recruits a pliant protégé to join her group of Strangers – a devout collection of kindred minds who have dedicated their lives to cultivating a unique idea of perfection.
But joining is easier than leaving.
Stranger Will explores the human urge to reproduce via one man’s struggle to understand his role as a father. As Rob Roberge, author of More than They Could Chew and Working Backwards from the Worst Moment of My Life, says “This is an original—unlike anything you’ve ever read before.”
Pick up your copy of this Literary/ Psychological/ Horror through Amazon US, Amazon UK, or Barnes & Noble.
About the author: Caleb J. Ross has a BA in English Literature and creative writing from Emporia State University. His 
About the prizes: Who doesn’t love prizes? You could win either of two $25 Amazon gift cards, an autographed copy of Stranger Will, or an autographed copy of one of its tour mates, Angel Falls by Michael Paul Gonazelz or The Sound of Loneliness by Craig Wallwork. Here’s what you need to do…
- Enter the Rafflecopter contest here
- Leave a comment on my blog.
That’s it! One random commenter during this tour will win a $25 gift card. Visit more blogs for more chances to win–the full list of participating bloggers can be found here. The other $25 gift card and the 3 autographed books will be given out via Rafflecopter. You can find the contest entry form linked below or on the official Perfect Edge Trifecta tour page via Novel Publicity. Good luck!
Perfect Edge Books was founded in late 2011 to unite authors whose books weren’t “obviously” commercial. Our books 
Learn more about Stranger Will‘s tour mates HERE.
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