Weekly Reading Update 3/4-3/11/16!

Another week gone, another Weekly Reading Update! It’s been a hectic week, so I’ve not read as much as usual.. But what I have gotten through was great!

I’m still working my way through the manga series “Dengeki Daisy” - which I have completely fallen in love with. It’s been a long time since I was this engrossed in a manga plot. I’m usually content just reading comics (American or Japanese) online or from the library - but I might have to buy this series, I’m loving it so much. The story just keeps evolving and getting bigger and bigger - but without being absolutely ridiculous like some series.

I’m also currently listening to “Touched By An Alien” by Gini Koch. This is a book I’ve always wanted to pick up, but I didn’t have the opportunity until now. The audiobook is great, since there’s a fun narrator, but I’m getting desperate because I have to know what happens - I’m not sure I can handle going at the audiobook speed much longer! I’m not sure what characters I like the best. If you like amusing sci-fi, you should definitely check this series out.

Next, I read “Unruly” by Ronnie Douglas, and reviewed it for Romance Reviews Today. This is the second book in the series, and runs at the same time as the first book, “Undaunted.” Because of that, you pretty much have to read the first book in the series, because in “Unruly” you get several half scenes. It wasn’t a bad book by any means, but it took so long to get to the real meat of the story that I was bored for the first half.

Finally, I reread “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline this week, for the book club I run at the library. If you love 80’s pop culture, virtual reality, and some seriously good sci-fi - you absolutely HAVE to check out this book. It’s so good. Even reading it the second time, I found stuff I missed the first round, and I already want to re-read it again. Also, I found a website that lists every pop culture reference throughout the book - and it’s FIVE pages long, front and back. Someday I’ll go through and see just how much of that I have actually seen/read/listened to. You know, when I have free time (so never).

That’s it for this week!

Happy Reading
~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

For the first time ever, A Stone in the Sea is FREE.

In honor of  Where lightning Strikes releasing on 3/22!! If you haven't met Sebastian Stone, do it now!

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Like audio? ASITS is just $1.99 A Stone in the Sea Audiobookhttp://amzn.to/1FsDjK1

Want to discuss? Join our group read and discussion in the A.L. Jackson Reader Hangout

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Get details: http://www.aljacksonauthor.com/book/a-stone-in-the-sea

REVIEW & Blog Tour: Rough Rhythm by Tessa Bailey!

My Review: Wow, I was not prepared for how.. hot this was going to be! I was not familiar with Tessa Bailey before this, but you better believe I will be picking up the rest of this series. There are some authors that can't properly form a compelling story in a novella format - but Bailey's "Rough Rhythm" packs a punch. It's not just the sex - though trust me, that's .. whew, oh boy - there is definitely an emotional component as well. I hurt for James and Lita. I wanted, if not needed, them to be happy.

I also love that Lita was the one in the band, and the drummer no less! Rockstar romances are a weakness of mine, and usually it's the man in the band. Or if there is a woman, she's a lead singer, or maybe the back up singer. But let me say, James can be my manger anytime. I've read several of the 1001 Dark Night novellas, and I have yet to be disappointed. You'll definitely want to check this one out!

ROUGH RHYTHM BY TESSA BAILEY- REVIEW AND EXCERPT TOUR

BUY LINK: http://amzn.com/B014V99DW6

  SYNOPSIS: God help the woman I take home tonight. Band manager James Brandon never expected to find the elusive satisfaction he’d been chasing, let alone stumble upon it in some sleezy Hollywood meat market. Yet the girl’s quiet pride spoke to him from across the bar, louder than a shout. Troubled, hungry and homeless, she’d placed her trust in him. But after losing the grip on his dark desires that one fateful night, James has spent the last four years atoning for letting her down. This time I’ll finally crack him. Rock band drummer Lita Regina has had enough of James’s guilt. She wants the explosive man she met that night in Hollywood. The man who held nothing back and took no prisoners—save Lita. And she’ll stop at nothing to revive him. Even if it means throwing herself into peril at every turn, just to get a reaction from her stoic manager. But when Lita takes her quest one step too far, James disappears from her life, thinking his absence will keep her safe. Now it’s up to Lita to bring James back…and ignite an inferno of passion in the process. Reader Advisory: ROUGH RHYTHM contains fantasies of nonconsensual sex, acted upon by consenting characters. Readers with sensitivity to portrayals of nonconsensual sex should be advised.

EXCERPT: “Oh, goddamn you.” Lita plucked the card from his fingers and hurled it back into the hallway with a muffled scream. “Four years leads to this, huh? You’re just going to dump me in this fucking…”—she waved her hands to encompass the hotel—“…rock star purgatory and bail? If you’re doing this to teach me a lesson, I will never forgive you, James.” “I’m not.” He cleared the cobwebs from his throat. “That’s not what this is.” Without looking at Lita, he knew she’d be chewing her bottom lip, leaving teeth marks that would take until nighttime to fade. “I guess we really meant a lot to you if it’s this easy. No notice. Just…peace out, suckers.” James swallowed the urge to shake her. “I think you know this is the furthest thing from easy.” “No. I don’t know anything,” she shouted, before several silent beats passed. “Except that you’re a coward. You can’t even look me in the eye.” He surged forward, pushing her back against the doorjamb. Going to break. Too much. I shouldn’t have come up here. He’d made the mistake of looking down into green eyes swimming with moisture, calling her bluff. “Does the thought of you hurting yourself to get my attention make me a coward? Yes? So be it, Lita.” His fingernails dug into the flesh of his palms. “If something happened to you, I wouldn’t make it to the next sunrise.” Lita’s body deflated, head falling back. “You can’t say something like that and leave,” she said, lips hardly moving. “It’s cruel.” “I’m a cruel man.” “No.” Lita moved into the elegant room, booted feet dragging. A miniature hurricane in a gilded cage. He’d chosen the room himself, another sign of his madness, his need to control her surroundings. Have knowledge of everything she touched. His neck grew hot when she turned, sliding a gaze down his front. Turning and leaving was imperative at that moment, but he couldn’t resist hearing what she would say next. Delaying the good-bye. “Remember what you called me the first night we met?” She sat down on the edge of the bed. “Before you leave, call me that one more time.” “No.”
EXCERPT: “You came along at an unfortunate time, Lita.” His head gave a tight jerk, jaw clenching. “I haven’t been feeling like myself.” “Really.” She set the donut down, her stomach executing a series of flips. Nervous ones, but not the type that made her want to run. Not the type she’d experienced before. These were hotter, fuller, curious. “How do you feel…instead?” “I have hunger.” His dark gaze swung up, gluing her to the plush, leather seat. “I don’t know if it can be fed like yours.” What was going on here? Lita felt almost hypnotized, lured in by his rasping, cultured voice. She recognized interest and arousal in men, had it directed at her often, but this? This was utter famishment. He reminded her of a vampire who’d been in hiding from the sun, unable to hunt. And now a deer lay before him, vital and tempting, life flowing through its veins. She was the deer. Man. How crazy were her thoughts right now? The lack of food must have gone to her head. After the trouble she’d just escaped, she shouldn’t care what went on under another man’s surface. Shouldn’t allow this odd, instantaneous attachment to take hold. The fuller her stomach became, though, the more her thoughts cleared. The more of James she saw. His interest in her, as he watched her mouth chew, was almost as thick as the leash around his neck, keeping him in place. If the lights in the room weren’t so dim, she could probably make it out. Strain bracketed his masculine mouth and he appeared to be swallowing golf balls down the column of his powerful throat. One…after…another. “How did you get so hungry?” James asked, his tone suggesting he was reclining back onto a bed of nails. Lita rejected the outside ugliness from entering the room. “I could ask you the same thing.” Her legs were steady as she stood and rounded the table, compelled by some force she couldn’t deny. Maybe it was his clear attempt to restrain himself, to fight the attraction so obvious between them. She stopped beside James, but he stayed still as stone. “I’m full. What happens now?” His eyelids drooped, fist mashing against his forehead. “Go.” That single, tortured word caught her in the chest. God, he was holding back so much. What would happen when it roared out? Why was she trembling with the need to find out? There was danger lurking beneath this man’s surface. Also known as the last thing a homeless girl wanting to turn her luck around needed. Too bad danger was the only thing that had ever made her feel alive. Lita walked past James to the lamp and flipped off the gentle light, before returning to his tense figure, sliding between his outstretched legs…and opening the robe. “Feed yourself.” The air crackled as James stood slowly, so slowly, rising to his full height. When Lita glimpsed his changed expression, she realized that—at her invitation—a change had snapped through him like a cracking whip, despite the way he rose without hurry. The vampire’s dirt nap had officially ended and the invisible leash was no more. Power rippled over his beautiful body as it pressed close, a hand finding her hip inside the robe, squeezing, his mouth sliding against her ear. His breath went choppy after issuing a single unexpected command. “Crawl.” 
ABOUT TESSA BAILEY Tessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans and laptop, driving cross-country to New York City in under four days. Her most valuable life experiences were learned thereafter while waitressing at K-Dees, a Manhattan pub owned by her uncle. Inside those four walls, she met her husband, best friend and discovered the magic of classic rock, managing to put herself through Kingsborough Community College and the English program at Pace University at the same time. Several stunted attempts to enter the work force as a journalist followed, but romance writing continued to demand her attention. She now lives in Long Island, New York with her husband of eight years and four-year-old daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.

Cover Reveal: POSSESSED BY A DARK WARRIOR by Felicity Heaton!!

It’s time for the cover reveal of the next Eternal Mates series book, Possessed by a Dark Warrior. This is one I know a lot of readers are waiting for, since it stars a certain dark elf called Bleu. Yes, it’s finally time for our gruff moody commander to put his head in the sacred noose…

If you haven’t had a chance to step into this passionate and action-packed world of dark elves, fae, demons, vampires, shifters and hunters, then you can take the leap with the first book in the series, Kissed by a Dark Prince, which is only 99c / 99p right now. Find the links to your favourite retailers at: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/kissed-by-a-dark-prince-paranormal-romance-novel.php

Here’s more about the next book in the series, due for release on April 9th!

A powerful warrior and commander of the dark elf legions, Bleu is a loyal and devoted male, and one who has never failed in anything—except one thing. Love. When an elusive female dragon shifter surfaces in Hell again, giving him a mission to hurl himself into, he gladly returns to his hunt for her and the deadly blade she stole from his prince seven centuries ago, but as he closes in on his prey, fate reveals she is far more than his enemy.
 
Having escaped from the black market arena and her life as a slave, Taryn sets her sights back on the task she began seven hundred years ago when her brother stole a precious sword, but in the three centuries she’s been a captive, everything has changed. Corrupted by a craving for power, her brother has become dangerously obsessed with finding the blade and using it to claim the ultimate treasure—the position of King of Hell.
 
Faced with having to end her beloved twin to stop him from bringing all of Hell to its knees before him, will Taryn be strong enough to use the very blade he seeks against him? And when Bleu finally catches his elusive prey, will he listen to his head as it demands he complete his mission or his heart as it demands he claim his eternal mate?

Pre-order your copy of Possessed by a Dark Warrior today at: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/possessed-by-a-dark-warrior-paranormal-romance-novel.php

Possessed by a Dark Warrior is due for release in ebook and paperback on April 9th 2016 and will be available from all major online book retailers.

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | iBooks US | iBooks UK | iBooks AU | iBooks CA | iBooks NZ | Kobo | ARE | Google Play
Join Felicity’s mailing list to receive a notification when Possessed by a Dark Warrior is released, PLUS a sneak preview of the first 4 chapters of the book and chances to win a signed paperback copy: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/newsletter.php
Add the book to your Goodreads shelf at: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28524669-possessed-by-a-dark-warrior

Books in the Eternal Mates paranormal romance series:

Book 1: Kissed by a Dark Prince
Book 2: Claimed by a Demon King
Book 3: Tempted by a Rogue Prince
Book 4: Hunted by a Jaguar
Book 5: Craved by an Alpha
Book 6: Bitten by a Hellcat
Book 7: Taken by a Dragon
Book 8: Marked by an Assassin
Book 9: Possessed by a Dark Warrior
Book 10: Awakened by a Demoness – Coming Spring 2016
Book 11: Haunted by the King of Death – Coming Summer 2016

About Felicity Heaton: Felicity Heaton is a New York Times and USA Today international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons! If you're a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too. If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try the best-selling Vampire Erotic Theatre series. Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the new Eternal Mates series. If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places: Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

Review: RELEASING THE DEMONS by L.D. Rose

Release Date: August 19th, 2015

Type: Series, Paranormal Romance, Hybrids, Enhanced Abilities, Vampires, Detectives With Attitude, The Order of the Senary, Book 1

About the Book: Blaze Knight has been through hell and back, but the nightmares aren't over yet. 

Five years after Blaze was maimed by Cyrus Chimola, a powerful vampire with a penchant for torture, he’s still trying to pick up the pieces of his shattered life. As a genetically engineered mercenary with the ability to bend fire to his will and to see in infrared, Blaze’s mission is to protect what’s left of humanity. When Chimola and his crew return to the Bronx gunning for Blaze’s blood, Blaze is forced to face the demons of his past. Hell-bent on revenge, he seeks the help of Valerie Medeiros, an NYPD detective who manages to steal his heart and save his life in more ways than one. 

Motivated by her sister’s gruesome death, Valerie has made it her life’s goal to bury every vampire in the ground where they belong. When she brings in Blaze Knight for suspected murder, she discovers he’s not only innocent, he isn't a man at all—he's a half-vampire hybrid working with a band of brothers for the U.S. military. Valerie has a hard time trusting anything with fangs, yet she quickly falls headlong into Blaze’s life, a life full of darkness and horror she can’t even begin to fathom. The bodies are stacking up, but Valerie can’t seem to let go of this hybrid, a beautiful monster filled with pain, rage, and passion unlike anything she's ever known. 

In a world where the line between good and evil is blurred, Blaze and Valerie will find danger at every turn, risking everything they’ve come to know and love, including one another. [Description from Goodreads.com]

My Review: This was a seriously entertaining read. I would have read it in one sitting if stupid real life didn't get in the way. When I started reading this, I found some similarities between this book and the world of the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews - which is great, because that series is awesome. I am really interested in the world the author has created here. It's scary, but fascinating. Not a place I'd want to live, for sure - but one I'm excited to learn more about in the future books. Because the world is so complex, and the Order itself has a deep history, I can see this book benefiting from a prequel novella in the future. It would definitely be an interesting read.

I'm a sucker for a broken, scarred hero. And I got that in droves in this book. Blaze is.. well, dreamy. And I enjoyed the dynamic between Blaze and Val. The main characters shine in this book, for sure. But author L.D. Rose doesn't scrimp in the secondary character front. The relationships between Blaze and his brothers, as well as Val and her partner, are well defined and fleshed out.

This was definitely a win. I'm super grateful for the author giving me a chance to review "Releasing The Demons." With so many amazing books out there, some of the great ones fall through the cracks - don't let this book be one of them!

Cover Lovin': Simple, but still attractive enough to catch my eye if I was browsing for a new read.

Recommendation: This is the first book of the series, so no prior knowledge necessary! But beware, you'll want to know what comes next.

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE stars (4/5). Loved this, and I can't wait to see where it goes in the future!

Be sure to get your copy of "Releasing the Demons" today!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Release Day Launch: WITH THE BAND by Natasha Preston!

Today is the release day for With the Band by Natasha Preston! I am so excited to share this with you! With the Band is the first in a rockstar romance and Natasha is sharing an excerpt and giveaway with us today, so be sure to check it all out! With the Band Synopsis: Texas Knight is daughter of the word’s biggest rock star, Mark Knight. Kitt Daniels is lead singer in the hottest up-and-coming band, Filthy Sound. Mark has mentored Filthy Sound from the beginning, seeing their potential, and now he’s supporting them on their first worldwide tour. She’s off-limits. He can’t help himself. Buy Links: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Band-Natasha-Preston-ebook/dp/B0191XRAUE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456521148&sr=8-1&keywords=with+the+band+natasha+preston Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/with-the-band-natasha-preston/1122798066?ean=2940152408706   

  Exclusive Excerpt: My dad gave a lot of warnings about any member of Filthy Sound messing around with me, and he was very graphic as he went into the consequences if that were to happen. Kitt is quite clearly choosing to ignore that because, right now, he’s breaking Dad’s rules big time. Again. Kitt’s Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows hard. “You’re different.” He makes me feel different, too, like I’m not just another woman to mess around with, like I’m special. Sometimes. Then, there are many, many occasions when he makes me feel like I’m falling into a bottomless black hole. At this moment, I feel like there’s no one else. I don’t want to hide my body away. He wants to see me, and I want him to as well. “How am I different?” I ask. “You’re not a game I’m playing, Tex.” Well, that’s good to hear. If he were just pushing the limits with me because he had a problem with following the rules, I’d lose it. “Then, what are you doing? Because this definitely wouldn’t be okay with my dad.” “I’m not looking to strip for your dad. Right now, I only care about what you think…what you want.” “You’re asking what I want?” Best to not go there. “Are you going to regret this in the morning, Kitt?” “Regret? No. Will I feel guilty as hell when I look him in the eyes tomorrow? Yes. But remembering one major detail makes it easier.” “What’s that?” “You’re an adult, and you’ll never be a one-night stand.” Bloody hell. My lungs deflate—in a good way. If we did this, it’d be the start of something. It’s dangerous to think about more with him. It could end so badly for me. I should be smart and think it through. But I can’t. When I’m around him, there is no thinking, no logic, and no consequences. It’s a bad combination, and I know I should stop. But with Kitt, I can never stop. Natasha Preston Bio: UK native Natasha Preston grew up in small villages and towns. She discovered her love of writing when she stumbled across an amateur writing site and uploaded her first story and hasn’t looked back since. She enjoys writing contemporary romance, gritty Young Adult thrillers and, of course, the occasional serial killer. Links: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Natasha-Preston-497930476930728/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/natashavpreston Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/natashapreston5/ Website - http://www.natashapreston.com   

Enter Natasha’s giveaway: a Rafflecopter giveaway    

Weekly Reading Update 2/20-2/26/16!

Another Weekly Reading Update! My week started off slow since I had to work all weekend and extra long days during the week, but I still managed to sneak in some reading time.

As we’re still in the midst of the Teen Reading Challenge, I started my weekend with some graphic novels..

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, volume 1: Squirrel Power by Ryan North. This was super cute, but I wasn’t wowed like I have been with some other Marvel titles. I’m definitely planning to continue with the second volume, though.

I also read The Adventures of Superhero Girl by Faith Erin Hicks. Goodreads has been recommending this graphic novel to me for years, and I always ignored it. Until I found this list of the best graphic novels written by women - and Superhero Girl was on it. So I broke down and requested it from the library, and now I’m mad at myself for waiting so long! It was great. Definitely check this one out. Girl power!

Another book I had been putting off even though I heard some great things - Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker. This is on a list of “Essential New Adult Books” that I found in a book review magazine. I copied down the list of titles, and I’m working my way through them, even though I had already read pretty many on the list. Ten Tiny Breaths was so good. Emotional, gritty… and definitely messed up. But so, so good. I’ve already requested book 2!

I also went on a bit of a Princeless binge.. as in, I read Princeless: The Short Stories, Princeless volume 4, and Princeless: Raven The Pirate Princess. If you like girl power graphic novels, this is definitely a series to pick up. In fact, Raven's book was like Rat Queens, but safer for a younger audience. They're so cute, well written, and everything I could have hoped for when I wanted a good new series to read.

I think that's more than enough for this week.. but don't worry, I have plenty more manga volumes requested from the library, so I will be a reading fool soon enough!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~