Sunday Post #138

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share new about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

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Hey! We've made it through another week!

It's been busy around here. I've been trying to get words caught up to the 50k to verify my writing at Camp Nanowrimo today. (I still have some work to do at some point today!) I was really hoping to get this book done by today, but that's not going to happen. I do feel confident that I've made a huge dent in re-writes and will continue through August to get it done. I want it done! But the difficult part is coming up and I'm getting nervous, the ending.

I've been on the go too. Last week was my wedding anniversary. My husband and I have been married for 14 years. We've been together for...18 years though. That's a long time! LOL! So hubby took me out for a very nice dinner Friday night.

Saturday I woke early and went to Confluence SF&F Convention in Pittsburgh. It's a smaller convention, which I'm hoping will grow and grow each year. And I had a wonderful time with great company. My brother went with me and his friend and his girlfriend meet us there. We had a great time watching panels. Oh, and I can not forget about the beer tasting panel. That was so much fun! The people were all great and we laughed so much! It was like sitting at the bar with friends. :D

Today will be go go go as well. Normal life stuff needs done and my grandmothers birthday was on Friday so I have to get to see her today.

I guess, no matter how much fun you have, life still catches up with you. *sigh*

Thank you all for the great support on my post about what's going on in life. I really appreciate it!

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The Fit Booker:

Goal:  Workout in any form of exercise (or on Wii Fit) 2x's a week. (to feel better and hope to drop a few pants sizes)

How did I do last week... I got 1 day of exercise in last weeks. Oh my back! I've had something wrong with my lower back and couldn't stand straight. So exercise consisted of stretches this week. I did get on the elliptical, which seemed to help too, for 26 minutes.

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What's Happening in Books:

Current Read:

Harbinger by Philippa Ballantine
The Side of Good / The Side of Evil edited by Danielle Ackley-McPhail


Current Audiobook:
The Case of the Claw by Keith R.A. DeCandido

Current Podcast Book Listen:
Stonebriar Casefiles: Bad Alchemy by Laura Nicole Spencer (You can listen for free too!)

Alight by Scott Sigler (You can listen for free too! One episode, a few chapters, a week!)

Finished Last Week: 

Nothing this week.

Audiobooks from Audible:

Esoterrorism by C.T. Phipps

Finished Podcast Book Listen:

Nothing

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Last Week on the Blog:

Cover Reveals: (click titles to go to post & learn more)

Covers I missed but still wanted to share. - I believe there is something in this list for everyone!

Posts:

What I'm sharing at: Spellbound in a Flash

I've also been slowly updating my Portfolio Page. You can check out the categories and new images in it.

Around the Internet...


Reviews:

The Demons We See by Krista D. Ball

"Krista has a masterful touch to her writing. She easily blends fun with serious topics. This story is much more than meets the eye when you start it."



Dead of Night by M.R. Forbes

"Wow. This world is vast in creatures and beings and magic. There is a system to the Houses that ruled in the magical ways."

Podcast Review:

Mama Bitchstress Reviews:

GIVEAWAYS:

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This Week to Come on the Blog:

I'm back to two reviews a week for a few weeks, until I get caught up with reads and listens. Hope you stop by to check them out! :)

I have 2 reviews and cover releases to come this week.

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Received Last Weeks:

Review & Review Consideration:

The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
THIS IS THE WAY THE WORLD ENDS... FOR THE LAST TIME.

The season of endings grows darker as civilization fades into the long cold night. Alabaster Tenring – madman, world-crusher, savior – has returned with a mission: to train his successor, Essun, and thus seal the fate of the Stillness forever.

It continues with a lost daughter, found by the enemy.

It continues with the obelisks, and an ancient mystery converging on answers at last.

The Stillness is the wall which stands against the flow of tradition, the spark of hope long buried under the thickening ashfall. And it will not be broken. 


Audio Books Requested for Review:

Purchased/Winnings/Gifts:

Book:

Once Upon a Curse: 17 Dark Faerie Tales (anthology)
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Seventeen magical stories from NY Times and USA Todaybestsellers and award-winning authors that will entice you to the darker side of faerie tales. More Grimm than Disney, in this collection you’ll find twists on Snow White, Hansel & Gretel, Rumplestilstskin, The Snow Queen, Cinderella, The Pied Piper, Alice in Wonderland, and Red Riding Hood, plus new tales paying homage to the old traditions. 
Shadows cannot exist without light, however, and you’ll find enough happily-ever-afters to lift your spirits in this anthology full of adventure, dark powers, and ultimately the enduring power of true love. 
  
YARROW, STURDY AND BRIGHT by Devon Monk – Sweet music cannot hide a wicked heart… 

FAE HORSE by Anthea Sharp – Faerie bargains can grant any desire, but be careful what you wish for. 

THE QUEEN OF FROST AND DARKNESS by Christine Pope - Her heart is the only thing colder than a Russian winter…. 

BONES by Yasmine Galenorn - Sometimes, your most cherished dream can turn out to be a nightmare. 

MAGIC AFTER MIDNIGHT by C. Gockel – The Wicked Stepmother is about to meet her match… 

DANCE WITH THE DEVIL by Donna Augustine - When the devil makes a deal with a dancer, he gets more than he bargained for. 

NO GIFT OF WORDS by Annie Bellet - Never steal from a witch... 

THE GRIM BROTHER by Audrey Faye – Not all walks in the wood end well… 

BEAUTY INSIDE BEAST by Danielle Monsch - Happily Ever After ain't guaranteed when Once Upon a Time is here. 

FAESCORNED by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson - The Morrigan, Celtic goddess of war and strife, must relive a painful memory that reminds her of what she can never have. 

DRAWN TO THE BRINK by Tara Maya - Sajiana's job is to hunt down monsters brought alive from paintings. She never expected to meet one so handsome... or to need his help. 

THE VARIANCE COURT by Alexia Purdy - Anna, a struggling college student, discovers a mysterious ring that turns her quiet life chaotic when the ring's magic doesn't do what it's told. 

THE MORRIGAN by Phaedra Weldon – A young man discovers he has leprechaun blood – and is wanted by dark faerie forces. 

ALICE by Julia Crane - A twisted tale of Alice and Wonderland. Facing madness and an ominous prophecy, Alice chooses to follow her heart despite knowing her world is about to change forever. 

STILL RED by Sabrina Locke – When the Hunters come, can there be any escape? 

THE FINAL STRAW by Jennifer Blackstream - To banish a gold-spinning demon, first you must guess his name... 

THE UNICORN HUNTER by Alethea Kontis – Only Snow White knows what really happened in the forest…

Into the Darkness by A.M. Rycroft
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
The epic dark fantasy/horror novel that kicked off the Cathell series.

Aeryn, a sell-sword still grieving her father. Theo, a young thief desperate to save her brother. Their worlds collide when Aeryn breaks the centuries-old curse on the Black Caverns and sets in motion a series of dark events.

Buried within the caverns is a fallen god, left seething in the darkness by the old gods for his crimes against the mortal world. The moment the curse is broken, the Harbinger stirs from his fitful slumber. As the Harbinger's twisted influence on the people and the world around them grows, Aeryn and Theo race to stop the Harbinger’s rise to power, but it may mean the deaths of one or both of them.

The special edition gives you a unique window into the world of Cathell with never before seen backstories and histories in the bonus content. 

The Taming by A.M. Rycroft
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Imps, ale, and intrigue… This dark fantasy tale follows the brash Thystle Moran, sword for hire. Only one job has ever bothered her, one that promised to be easy money, but ended in the death of her friend. Now, an imp with questionable motives says her friend's death was no accident. Thystle seeks retribution as her world spirals out of control. She faces off against her dark past, a betrayal, feelings for a young woman, and the interests of a shadowy group known only as the Immortals. Can Thystle complete her quest for vengeance before someone ends her first? 


Audio:

Free Ebooks:

(On my Kindle App) Links to books under title. They may or may not be free at this time.

Desecration by J.F. Penn
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Death isn't always the end. LONDON. When the body of a young heiress is found within the Royal College of Surgeons, Detective Sergeant Jamie Brooke is assigned to the case. An antique ivory figurine found beside the body is the only lead and she enlists Blake Daniel, a reluctant clairvoyant, to help her discover the message it holds. When personal tragedy strikes, Jamie finds her own life entwining with the morbid fascinations of the anatomists, and she must race against time to stop them claiming another victim. As Jamie and Blake delve into a macabre world of grave robbery, body modification, and the genetic engineering of monsters, they must fight to keep their sanity, and their lives. 

My Name Is A'yen by Rachel Leigh Smith
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
They've taken everything from him. Except his name.

The Loks Mé have been slaves for so long, freedom is a distant myth A'yen Mesu no longer believes. A year in holding, because of his master's murder, has sucked the life from him. Archaeologist Farran Hart buys him to protect her on an expedition to the Rim, the last unexplored quadrant.

Farran believes the Loks Mé once lived on the Rim and is determined to prove it. And win A'yen's trust. But she's a breeder's daughter and can't be trusted.

Hidden rooms, information caches and messages from a long-dead king change A'yen's mind about her importance. When she's threatened he offers himself in exchange, and lands on the Breeder's Association's radar. The truth must be told. Even if it costs him his heart.

Dark Fate the Gathering by Matt Howerter
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
An arranged marriage.
A lost heir to the dwarven throne.
An ancient undead seeks to manipulate four unlikely heroes.

Princess Sloane is to become a queen. Her marriage will unite the last two human kingdoms of Orundal. As it is not a marriage of choice but of necessity, she struggles with the responsibility laid before her, not knowing that the sacrifice she makes for her homeland will be but the first that she must endure. 

Her twin sister, Princess Sacha, has been called from her studies at the Monastery to support Sloane in her time of need. Sacha has begun to learn the ways of the arcane and deals with her own troubles concerning the loss of a family that has been taken from her.

The sisters will not face their fates alone as Erik and Kinsey, steadfast companions, become their guides. 

Erik seeks only solace for himself and his adopted son, but soon learns that such a wish is impossible to attain as the events around them unfold. 

Kinsey, orphaned at birth, wrestles with his newfound rage not realizing that its cause is tied to his unknown heritage.

A tale of adventure filled with dwarves and elves, men and mages, were-beasts and the undead who clash together in a conflict so vast it will consume them all. These four troubled souls will become champions in the struggle for survival, as dark forces gather to destroy them.



(On my Nook)

Rise of the Mercenary King by S.C. Stokes
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
When tragedy threatens to claim the lives of those he holds dear, Tyrion Nelvar finds himself fighting for his very life.


Half-Elf, half-man, all warrior. The young adventurer must bring everything he has to bear if he is to rise above the chaos and conflict that plague the land of Vantacor.


This action packed Novella will keep you on your toes from the first page till the last.

Sanguinary by Margo Bond Collins
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Only fifty years left before vampires rule the world.

When Dallas police detective Cami Davis joined the city's vampire unit, she planned to use the job as a stepping-stone to a better position in the department. 

But she didn't know then what she knows now: there's a silent war raging between humans and vampires, and the vampires are winning. 

So with the help of a disaffected vampire and an ex-cop addict, Cami is going undercover, determined to solve a series of recent murders, discover a way to overthrow the local Sanguinary government, and, in the process, help win the war for the human race. 

But can she maintain her own humanity in the process? Or will Cami find herself, along with the rest of the world, pulled under a darkness she cannot oppose?


Free Audio Books/Stories:

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Reviews to Come:

Soulless by Skyla Dawn Cameron

The Sentinel by Chris Lester

The Muse by Chris Lester
Metamor City: Making the Cut by Chris Lester
Metamor City: Whispers in the Wood by Chris Lester

Age of Myth by Michael J. Sullivan

Lex Talionis by Starla Huchton

Spark by Starla Huchton
Heir to Kale by K.L. Bone

Tales from the Archives Vol 4 #5 - Old Sinner's Bones

The Death of Dulgath by Michael J. Sullivan

Solomon's Seal by Skyla Dawn Cameron
Fast Money by Colleen Helme

Esoterrorism by C.T. Phipps

All that testing I had done. The results...

Hi all. I wanted to hold off on sharing any great details until I had some sort of hard core idea what was going on, and that I hadn't talked to my kiddo about any of it yet either. You know kids, they are always online and didn't want him finding out that way, I wanted to talk to him. So now that I have talked to him and have a few more details I'll share.

It seems I'll be going in for surgery. Let me start at the beginning.

It all goes back to the mammogram. There was a spot found. So there was an ultrasound and a biopsy (as biopsies aren't to stress over because many woman go back for them, they are still NO fun). Nothing showed up cancerous or abnormal at this point, which I have little faith in biopsies as they don't tell the story of the whole presence. They did diagnose it as a Radial Scar.

What is a radial scar? Good question. I'm still not 100% sure and it seems the doctors aren't either. There is no lump. They don't know what causes these in woman. But they believe this is/could be a precursor to cancer. It's in a star shape with ends that reach out, but no hard center like with cancer.

So the doctors at the imaging place suggested it be removed. I wasn't thrilled with that as they didn't sound 100% sure what it was. So I went to a specialist, a breast cancer surgeon. She talked with me, easing my irritation at the other doctors that jump to surgery, and said not all radial scars need to be removed. There was one more test to be done, an MRI with contrast. If it glowed in the contrast as the cells were acting differently, then that was when they suggest removal otherwise you are clear (probably keep an eye on it over years though).

So I got into the noisy, knocking machine and rested for forty minutes. The doctor called with my results the next business day. It seems that the tissue of the radial scar is acting abnormally. It glowed differently in the contrast, which means it needs to be removed. So now I'm scheduling surgery.

Is it cancerous? I don't know. Back to the biopsy, there was no abnormal cells or cancer cells found. They will test it when they remove it and let me know for sure. She seems to think it'll be benign, but won't know until it's out and tested.

Could it become cancer if I don't remove it? Who knows. It seems the cells are acting abnormal and those are the ones that can turn cancerous over time. So maybe? As an added note, there is history of breast cancer in the family, so maybe this was the starts of it. I really don't know.

The catch is there is no lump with this disobedient tissue. So I'll need to have a radiation seed inserted while having a mammogram. This way she can find the area to remove with the use of a Geiger counter. She'll remove that seed, the marker from biopsy, and the radial scar in surgery. It sounds to be a quick surgery done through outpatient. So I'll be home the same day and back to normal activity the next day, though no strenuous exercise for 10-14 days.

Why am I posting this? I have been vague about the tests and things going on with me so I wanted to clarify. You all have become good friends and I appreciate your patience with me of the last year or so with all going on in the family. There are those of you who ask about my kiddo and how things are going. Thank you, because it means a lot to hear from people who care.

Also, I don't know if this will help another going through the same thing. I struggled to find facts about radial scars. I know online you can find anything in any direction you are looking for. But for me, it didn't seem there was any hard fact about radial scars and relation to cancer, it all varies on who's doing the testing and drawing of conclusions. And it seems to still be a bit new as I couldn't find much online about it that felt clear in what was said.

Cover Reveals I Missed, but still wanted to share.

Sometimes life happens fast and we miss sharing things we love. Well, I've missed a few cover reveals but I wanted to share them with you anyway. So if you've seen them, you see them again. ;)

Here we go!

Hidden Deception by Colleen Helme

Due Out: August 12, 2016

Pre-order

Book 9 in the Shelby Nichols Adventure Series

Just back from Paris, Shelby barely has time to get over her jet lag before she is right back in the thick of things. Uncle Joey, the local mob boss, needs her help to find out what his son is hiding from him. Detective Harris, AKA Dimples, has an unsolved homicide on his hands, along with a missing engagement ring. Shelby's husband, Chris, just got promoted to partner in his law firm, and she has yet to see his new office or meet his new secretary. Add to that the opportunity to purchase a beautiful home, and Shelby is racing from one thing to the next while trying to keep them all straight.

When a courier in Uncle Joey’s organization turns up dead, it’s up to Shelby and her mind-reading powers to find out who killed him and why. The house Shelby wants to buy has a few problems that go beyond the building code, and the murder she’s helping Dimples solve has ties to Chris’ law firm. Even using all of her skills, Shelby finds one hidden deception after another. And if she’s not careful, it might be the one she least expects that will kill her.

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Tempered Hearts by S.A. Huchton

Due Out: August 8, 2016

Pre-order

The war against corrupted monsters from the Void may have ended, but much remains broken in Valentia, including its reluctant monarch. To save the kingdom from the destruction of civil war, Darius Marillion had to sacrifice his heart, agreeing to a marriage of convenience over one of love.

Lady Arden Tanarian was born to wealth, bred to be a fine wife to a high lord. Despite her mother's best efforts, however, her passion for the decidedly unladylike fields of chemistry and elvish culture marks her as a different breed of woman. Though she's always been able to see the bright side of things, Arden's hopes for her life with the dashing, but sullen prince crumble around her in learning where his heart truly lies.

Dubbed The Light of Valentia, Arden has a mystifying effect on the world around her. She inspires something in people— including Darius— that he thought he'd never feel again: Hope.

Bonds of the heart forged in battle are strong, but time changes much. When the flames of war fade to low embers, peace in a kingdom can reveal love in the most unexpected places.

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Secrets of Supervillainy by C.T. Phipps

Due Out: NOW!

Pick up now!

Merciless, the Supervillain without Mercy (TM), is back with even bigger problems! How far will he go to fix his wife's current state of being a soulless vampire? Can he ignore his growing feelings for Cindy, despite their difference over the new Star Wars movie? Can he survive the wrath of the president of the United States (whom he accidentally stole billions from)?

While he ponders those personal issues, Death has a new mission for him. The greatest hero on Earth has killed, and she isn't pleased. Death wants the murder solved and the perpetrator given the kind of justice only the Avatar of Death can dish out. Unfortunately for Gary, that's only the tip of the psychotic iceberg.

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Wraith Knight by C.T. Phipps

Due Out: November 6, 2016

Pre-order

The King Below, Enemy of the World, is dead. Will his successor save the world...or rule it?

Jacob Riverson was once the greatest hero of an age. Cut down during what should have been the final battle against the King Below, he was condemned to centuries of torment as a Wraith Knight in the service of said monster. With the destruction of his master, Jacob finds his free will returning and discovers he is in a world torn by civil war between the King Below's former slaves and the heroes who "saved" them.

Joining forces with the overly-idealistic but brilliant warrior Regina Whitetremor, Jacob must determine whether he has any place in the new world and whether his destiny is as a hero or monster. Or both.

Wraith Knight is book one of the Three Worlds saga by C.T. Phipps.

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All these books are right up my alley! I need to have them all. :D

Audio Book Review: Dead of Night

Dead of Night

By:  M.R. Forbes

Publish Date:  May 17, 2014, Audiobook Release August 14, 2014

Format:  Audiobook - 9 hrs 53 mins
Narrated By:  Jeff Hays

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  1st in Ghosts & Magic series

First Impression:  A necromancer for hire who wants to live, but has one foot in the grave.

Synopsis:
Small-time thief and hitman Conor Night thinks having terminal cancer is his worst problem. The illegal treatments keeping him alive are expensive, and the side effects a mixed bag:

Conor can raise the dead.

When a low-end hit points to a high-end job, Conor is suspicious, but it's an opportunity he can't afford to ignore. Armed with a set of soul-sucking ancient dice, a collection of corpses, and the estranged daughter of one of the most powerful wizards on Earth, it will take all of his wit, charm, and magic to navigate the treacherous world of the dominant Houses and either finish the job, or be finished himself.

He's got ninety-nine problems, and dying is only one.

First Sentence:
I approached the door on my elbows, dragging myself like some kind of mutant lizard along the stained brown carpet that lined the eighth floor hallway of the Hotel Paramour.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:
*I requested a copy of this book from the narrator, author, or publisher for my enjoyment and an honest review.

On a job, Conor Night hears of another job paying two million dollars. That was a lot of money. More than his current job to kill the two men that were offered the job. After finishing his current job, Conor asks about the job. The Fixer gives it to him, but Conor has 48 hours to finish and contact him and Mr. Black or a kill team will be after him, and being a necromancer won't make a difference to them. What seemed to be a simple theft job turns out to be more, and the different powerful Houses are involved. Conor finds himself on the run while protecting another, yet fighting back against beings that shouldn't be.

I do enjoy the vast cast of voices Jeff performs in his narrations. That's the first thing that drew me to this novel, the second was it sounded like something I would read and enjoy. Jeff has not let me down with his talented voice. Not only do we get different voices but we get the muffled sounds of one talking without a jaw (you have to listen to understand) along with sounding like one is on the phone when doing so. Jeff breaths life into all the characters in a fourth dimension we don't always get in books, through voice and emotions.

Wow. This world is vast in creatures and beings and magic. There is a system to the Houses that ruled in the magical ways. And lots of ghosts, though I did get confused as to who are ghosts and not, and what ghost meant here. I'm leaving the book believing ghost isn't exactly what we think of with ghost. I think Ghost is a term used for people who are affiliated with magic, touched by it some how or for those that are hired to do theft jobs along with assassinations.

Conor is motivated by money, so he'll survive and send money to those he care(d) about. But he does have his own set of rules and morels too. Will he turn on his current employer to save his own neck? Or does he have something else up his baggy sleeves? You'll have to read to see what he'll do when put on the spot. Conor is an interesting character as he's a necromancer, and to be one you have to have one foot in the grave, so to speak. Conor is dying. That's when the necromancer ability shines along with the use of the drugs he needs to hold off the cancer from finishing it's work. He could always feel the pulse of the fields that brought magic back to the world, but that was all until he started the test drugs for his cancer.

The reason for magic being present in the world is interesting and feels well thought out. We get the descriptions are given through the book.

I think the jury is still out on this book and world. I'm just don't feel I understand what's happening in the world with ghosts and magic completely yet. We get some of the rules, but I'm not sure I understand it all yet. There is much here to see and learn, and with Conor being a hired gun or thief, there is great potential for us to see more of this powerful world.

In the end, I'm curious about this dark, magical world created. We get the complete story here but there are small openings in the world that could bring us to the series and to learn much much more about Conor and some answers he's seeking.

Book Review: The Demons We See

The Demons We See

By:  Krista D. Ball

Publish Date:  June 12, 2016

Format:  eARC

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  1st in The Dark Abyss Of Our Sins series

First Impression:  Characters I've fallen in love with as they tax their beliefs in the unavoidable disputes & pending war between enslaved mages and normal humans.

Synopsis:
Society was rocked when the Church asked Allegra, Contessa of Marsina, to negotiate the delicate peace talks between the rebelling mage slaves and the various city states. Not only was she a highborn mage, she was a nonbeliever and a vocal objector against the supposed demonic origins of witchcraft. Demons weren’t real, she’d argued, and therefore the subjection of mages was unlawful.
But that was all before the first assassination attempt. That was before Allegra began to hear the strange whispers in the corridors. That was before everything changed. Now, Allegra, and her personal guards race to stabilize the peace before the entire known world explodes into war with not just itself, but with the abyss from beyond.
So much for demons not being real.

First Sentence:
He listened helplessly as the royal guards stormed into the great foyer of the estate.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  

My Thoughts and Summary:
*I requested a copy of this book for an honest review.

Allegra's letter to the Holy father asking to find an Arbiter that can help stop wars instead of more tension results in her being brought further into a world she strives to stay away from. To stop the rebellion of the mages against the people who have enslaved them, hoping to prevent an all out war between the states that the country couldn't survive, Allegra takes the position she knows will destroy her in the end. But she can't stand seeing the injustice any longer and accepts the position as Arbiter. Allegra will fight many hatreds and prejudices against mages and elementals, to be threatened again and again, to bring freedom and peace to all. Allegra also learns that the stories of the demons locked out of this word is true. Allegra will have to trust those she never thought she would, hoping they won't turn on her, to help keep her greatest secret and fight against threats of man and demon.

Krista starts us off quick with the brutal reality of the elementals - witches and mages. They stay in hiding and never show their ability for they will be sent to the mines or worse, killed. We see Walter fleeing from an underground network of tunnels in what was thought a safe house, until the General and his troops arrive to take in the Lady of the home as a needed elemental. This sets the stage of how mages and elementals are treated and the feel of why a rebellion is stewing.

Krista has done well creating a cast of characters I enjoy reading. They all interact well together and have sense of humor. I do enjoy this in Krista's writing and I read though the book faster. We start off with a small moment that made me smile about looking for the Captains' button in the stable. This sets the personalities of the crew I come to enjoy. And Pope Francois's husband, Pero, feels to have a light felt humor I enjoyed but he's also very emotional feeling about how things should be.

Krista has a masterful touch to her writing. She easily blends fun with serious topics. This story is much more than meets the eye when you start it. It centers around slavery and treatment of slaves. The slaves are those who are accused of being elementals and mages, this does not always mean they are as people get mad at someone and this is their way to have them eliminated. The world fears them and sees them as different so they are cruel and worse to all people who are, or are thought to fall, in the mage category. Allegra helps to free those like her, mages and elementals. She wants to educate the poor born mages so they can control their powers and do more than what they are forced to do.

Allegra is in a position and ranking that she might be able to help those she's been trying to with her money for years. She's a contessa and a mage, with a bigger secret. But she fears for her own control of her ability and what will be done to her if they find out her secret. She tries to help from the sidelines, but quickly learns that's not the same as doing what can be done in the open. I do enjoy her spark and drive though. She's a brilliant woman and it shows in her discussions...minor disputes...with others.

I am absolutely and totally invested in these characters! This book held my attention, and kept me coming back. I enjoyed the interactions of the characters. We have Allegra and Captain Stanton who both have pasts and secrets they don't want anyone to know about. Then there's Lex and Dodd, two lieutenants in charge under Stanton. They are a hoot when they appear on the page. I have enjoyed them both throughout the book. Lex is a different character for me to read, special in his own way. Lex seems to be many people in one and references himself as they. I really like that Lex is different, and accepted. All these relationships grow and strengthen with Allegra as the story goes, and my love for them all grows as well.

There is a growing love that we witness through the book. And it feels natural and innocent. I loved this creation through all they live through. This is a couple that should be together!

The ending had me neeeeeding the next book. I get the feel the world has destroyed the one thing that can help them in the dire times that are to come, and those that treated these people terribly are going to regret it. I sooooo am looking forward to The Nightmares We Know.

Sunday Post #137

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share new about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

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And we are back to Sunday. This week felt slow, and I think this coming week will feel the same way. Another of my co-workers will be on vacation this week. That makes for a tough week at the office when we are down one person, there are only three of us. So I'm hoping the phone calls are on the low end of the spectrum and I can still listen to my audio books.

I've been working on re-writes pretty good this week. I don't know if I'll finish the book by the end of July as I had hoped, but I will hit the 50k word mark. My counting goes by the words I read and added. I use this method to count as I am not reading at a fast pace. When I read I'm thinking about what needs to be added, how does this affect where the story is going, and how do I make it sound or fit better. This ends in words deleted and words added, here or somewhere else, to clarify and fit it together. Surprisingly, I'm having fun with this!

I took a few more pictures this week. They were of my son in his suit for senior pictures. He seemed so excited to pose for me! lol. It was great! I do have those added to my picture page (Spellbound in a Flash) linked below.

I had one more test on Friday in regards to the same thing that's been going on since May. I'm thinking the results will be good and that will be the end of it, after seeing the doctor, but I still have to wait and see. Once I get these results I think I can share more details of what's been going on. I just didn't want to share information to get anyone worried over nothing.

So, now we head into a new week with high hopes. Hope you all have a great week!

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The Fit Booker:

Goal:  Workout in any form of exercise (or on Wii Fit) 2x's a week. (to feel better and hope to drop a few pants sizes)

How did I do last week... I got 1 day of exercise in last weeks. This week the session went better with my allergies and all. But I only made one day.*sigh* I just don't seem to get all the things done in a day or week.

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What's Happening in Books:

Current Read:

Harbinger by Philippa Ballantine
The Side of Good / The Side of Evil edited by Danielle Ackley-McPhail

I'm also working on Content Editing Work as well.

Current Audiobook:
Will start a new one at work on Monday

Current Podcast Book Listen:
Stonebriar Casefiles: Bad Alchemy by Laura Nicole Spencer (You can listen for free too!)

Alight by Scott Sigler (You can listen for free too! One episode, a few chapters, a week!)

Finished Last Week: 

The Demons We See by Krista D. Ball

Audiobooks from Audible:

Dead of Night by M.R. Forbes

Fast Money by Colleen Helme

Finished Podcast Book Listen:

Nothing

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Last Week on the Blog:

Cover Reveals: (click titles to go to post & learn more)

Posts:

What I'm sharing at: Spellbound in a Flash - A photography album/record of my own images.

One Picture, Several Views

I've also been slowly updating my Portfolio Page. You can check out the categories and new images in it.

Around the Internet...


Reviews:

Struck by Amanda Carlson

"Emma is new to audio for me and she did a wonderful job. I'm a huge fan of narrators doing different voices, tones, and attitudes when narrating secondary characters. Emma does that, giving each character their own voice and personality vocally, making them easy to differentiate as she narrates."

Podcast Review:

Mama Bitchstress Reviews:

GIVEAWAYS:

Hound's Bite Release and Giveaway!

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This Week to Come on the Blog:

I'm back to two reviews a week for a few weeks, until I get caught up with reads and listens. Hope you stop by to check them out! :)

I have 2 reviews to come this week.

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Received Last Weeks:

Review & Review Consideration:

Audio Books Requested for Review:

Queen Mab: A Tale Entwined with William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet by Kate Danley
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
"Oh then I see Queen Mab hath been with you..."

Everyone knows Romeo & Juliet, but what if it isn't the whole story? What if Queen Mab, mentioned in only one speech in the entire play, is actually responsible for all the tragedy about to strike the Houses of Montague and Capulet? And her love for Mercutio the key to everything...

Weaving Shakespeare's original text into a new story, fans of The Woodcutter will love this latest retelling by award-winning author Kate Danley. Experience the romance of Romeo & Juliet from a different point of view - through the eyes of the bringer of dreams... Queen Mab.




Purchased/Winnings/Gifts:

Book:

Audio:

Free Ebooks:

(On my Kindle App) Links to books under title. They may or may not be free at this time.

Atomic Underworld: Volume Two by Jack Conner
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
The conclusion to the two-part Atomic Underworld storyline, which follows Tavlin Metzler through the mutant-filled sewers beneath Hissig. Atomic Underworld take place in the same world as The Atomic Sea. 

Keep your eyes on the shadows ...

Washed-up professional gambler Tavlin Metzler is done working with the shadowy criminal network that lurks beneath the city streets, but when a brutal and mysterious set of murders occurs in the very bedroom of his old mob boss, Tavlin gets drawn back into the mix. In the world of the Atomic Sea, mutants thrive--fish-people, lobster-people, turtle-people--the list goes on. But in the country of Ghenisa, many of them are disenfranchised and relegated to life in the vast, alien sewers beneath the capital city of Hissig.

There Tavlin is taken by Boss Vassas's goons and given an edict by the Boss himself: find out who (or what) committed the crimes . . . or else. In no time, Tavlin is hip-deep in danger, dodging spies, cultists, mobsters, monsters and more sewer mutants than he can shake a foul-smelling stick at. But things get really complicated when Sophia, his old flame, shows up.

Atomic Underworld: Part Two is the conclusion to a two-part set of steampunk, horror and fantasy adventure novels by internationally bestselling author Jack Conner. If you like action-packed storytelling, Lovecraftian horrors, and unique twists and turns you won’t see coming, then you’ll love Jack Conner’s incredible mix of fantasy, adventure, mystery and espionage.

Rise of the Dragon by Morgan Rice
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Kyra, 15, dreams of becoming a famed warrior, like her father, even though she is the only girl in a fort of boys. As she struggles to understand her special skills, her mysterious inner power, she realizes she is different than the others. But a secret is being kept from her about her birth and the prophecy surrounding her, leaving her to wonder who she really is.

When Kyra comes of age and the local lord comes to take her away, her father wants to wed her off to save her. Kyra, though, refuses, and she journeys out on her own, into a dangerous wood, where she encounters a wounded dragon—and ignites a series of events that will change the kingdom forever. 

15 year old Alec, meanwhile, sacrifices for his brother, taking his place in the draft, and is carted off to The Flames, a wall of flames a hundred feet high that wards off the army of Trolls to the east. On the far side of the kingdom, Merk, a mercenary striving to leave behind his dark past, quests through the wood to become a Watcher of the Towers and help guard the Sword of Fire, the magical source of the kingdom’s power. But the Trolls want the Sword, too—and they prepare for a massive invasion that could destroy the kingdoms forever.

With its strong atmosphere and complex characters, RISE OF THE DRAGONS is a sweeping saga of knights and warriors, of kings and lords, of honor and valor, of magic, destiny, monsters and dragons. It is a story of love and broken hearts, of deception, of ambition and betrayal. It is fantasy at its finest, inviting us into a world that will live with us forever, one that will appeal to all ages and genders.

Glistens by Chess Desalls
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Marian Spritz won’t gain guardian fairy status if she fails her summer school project. But when she hears a call for help—a song felt only by Glistens—she must choose between not letting her schoolwork and teammates suffer and protecting a ward who faces grave danger.

A guardian can't shine without the song of her ward.

Cursed by J.A. Cipriano
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
My name is Mac Brennan and that's the only thing I can remember about myself. Not why I woke up in a dumpster. Not why my right arm is as black as pitch and covered in glowing red tattoos, and certainly not why a vicious death cult is after me.

Actually, that last part isn't true. I know why the death cult is after me. It's because I saved that damned girl from them. I didn't know who she was at the time, but I'd have done it anyway. I just don't like it when girls get beat up, call me old fashioned.

Still, I can tell she's hiding something behind those devilish eyes, and if I want to find out what it is, I'll have to help her.

My name is Mac Brennan. I have no memory, and I'm a werewolf-hunting, hellfire-flinging version of Faust himself. 



(On my Nook)

Free Audio Books/Stories:

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Reviews to Come:

Soulless by Skyla Dawn Cameron

The Sentinel by Chris Lester

The Muse by Chris Lester
Metamor City: Making the Cut by Chris Lester
Metamor City: Whispers in the Wood by Chris Lester

Age of Myth by Michael J. Sullivan

Lex Talionis by Starla Huchton

Spark by Starla Huchton
Heir to Kale by K.L. Bone

Tales from the Archives Vol 4 #5 - Old Sinner's Bones

The Death of Dulgath by Michael J. Sullivan

Solomon's Seal by Skyla Dawn Cameron
The Demons We See by Krista D. Ball

Dead of Night by M.R. Forbes

Fast Money by Colleen Helme