Sunday Post #160

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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So, I skipped last Sunday's Post. And I've skipped two weeks of photo posts at Spellbound in a Flash. I needed the break somewhere and that's where I took it. Life is moving so fast and there are so many things to do; that I want to do, and need to do. Just not enough time in a day to get to it all, and relax.

Also, I've been hiding in my shell. I need to quit doing that and keep going. Sorry to have skipped out on visiting this last week. I'm going to work better at visiting more this week.

The sun does make me feel hopeful and happier. The sun seems to be out earlier and longer with each day. That brings a small spark of hope that nicer weather and summer is on it's way. Then we went back to winter. Ugh. I was really loving the sunny, warm weather. Maybe that's what happened to me this last week, I hit the downward spiral with the weather getting cold again. I don't know.

I did go to the book chat for Dirty Magic. Sad to say that my friend and I were the only two people that showed up other than the two directors. Bummer. But we had a nice chat about the book anyway. And I got to see Nicole Peeler again. I haven't seen her in a while. Jaye Wells is coming to our area for a talk at the end of March, so I look forward to that.

In personal life... Kiddo has visited the local university a third time. We talked about money more detailed this trip as that's a big HUGE factor in going to school. I'm working on the form to appeal at another college for more money for him. And we finally got to take my dad out for his steak birthday dinner. He was feeling a bit down with a head cold the last two weekends and he was finally better yesterday. It was nice because his brother and wife came with two of their kids, and two grandkids.

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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... This week I did get a good bit in. Sunday and Monday I got on the treadmill, Tuesday I walked at lunch, Wednesday and Thursday I worked out with weights and elliptical. If you count Friday's walk around the college campus, that was 6 days of moving! Woot woot. That doesn't happen all that often. lol.

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What's Happening in Books:

Current Read:

Every Kingdom Divided by Stephen Kozeniewski
Content Editing Work

Current Audiobook:
Redemption Song by Craig Schaefer

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

Finished Last Week: 

Tales of the Blood Kissed by Seleste DeLaney

Audiobooks from Audible:

Clan by Realm Lovejoy
Primal Dawn by Ryan Kirk


Finished Podcast Book Listen:

Nothing yet.

DNFed:

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Last Week on the Blog:

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

Guest Posts:

Posts:

Mythical Monday - Blame it on a misspent youth

Mythical Monday - Mythology in Science Fiction

Spellbound in a Flash:
I need to get a new post up.


Challenged Writers:
February Update on writer-ly items, with a picture of book working on.

Around the Internet...


Reviews:

Wizard's Nocturne by Gary Jonas

"Wow. What a twisted time line. lol. Hats off to the author for keeping it all straight and in line, keeping the events and time streams clear as they are different with each character living their own time line. And he kept me up on what was happening with each character..."


Infinite Magic by Linsey Hall

"I enjoy the way Linsey wrote this series. I could easily feel and relate the connections of what Cass does here with what she's learned through the previous books. Well planned out and connected."

Hathor Legacy: Revelations by Deborah A. Bailey

"Sometimes I'm so drawn into the story I forget to make notes for the review. It's a good thing! It happened with this story. I was so intent on listening to everything that happened and all the details, living with the characters and enjoying all scenes, that I didn't want to stop to make notes."


Tales of the Blood Kissed by Seleste Delaney

"Fun, sexy stories with characters I have enjoyed. We learn a history of Jocelyn, Max, Chad, and a touch more of Remy and his personality. The stories all made me smile, for different reasons - love, magic, humor, personal touches of the characters, and more."

Podcast Review:

Mama Bitchstress Reviews:

GIVEAWAYS:

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This Week to Come on the Blog:

Two reviews. And a Mythical Monday!

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Received Last Weeks:

(Note: Links to Amazon are buy links where I could earn commission, in case you are interested.)


For Review Consideration:

Audio Books Requested for Review:

Forgotten by Frances Pauli
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Goodreads Synopsis:
*A stand-alone Kingdoms Gone story*

Two women on opposite ends of time. Between them is the war that will change their world forever... 

Payne lives a cursed life. Her touch brings death, and her memory is damaged. She has only an aging mage for company, and he could easily be her enemy. When a stranger tears her away from her temple's safety, she finds the world outside just as empty of answers. Who can she believe and who, if anyone, can break her curse and free her from a life that is rapidly slipping toward darkness and destruction?

Farine has been blessed with everything she's ever desired. Her father is the king, her friends surround her and her life seems perfect. Until a strange User dares her to look into the unicorn's eye, and the veil of illusion is lifted. Now her father's perfect kingdom shows its true colors. The walls are crumbling and the enemies no one believed they had are marching for the gates. As the Kingdoms fall, Farine must choose between trusting her old friends, or her newly awakened heart.

One woman living on the eve of the Final War and one dwelling in the aftermath. Only by untangling their destinies will they find the answer that could save them both.

Magic Undying by Linsey Hall
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Waking up in hell was not Del Bellator’s idea of a good time. She’d rather be back on earth, killing demons and hunting down magical treasure for her shop, Ancient Magic. 

Turns out that escaping hell is easy—it’s staying out that’s hard. Del’s death magic defies the laws of the supernatural world. Worse—she doesn’t know how to control it. If others learn what she is, it’s guaranteed persecution by the Order of the Magica. And Del already has a deadly and forbidden secret—she shares a soul with a dragon. 

Things get sticky when Roarke Fallon, Warden of the Underworld, shows up on her doorstep wanting to drag her back to hell. He’s a one of a kind shifter—the most powerful she’s ever met—and he’s set his sights on her. Helping him catch an escaped demon gives her an opportunity to win her freedom, but only if she teams up with Roarke. She’ll have to use her forbidden magic to get the job done. And that is a recipe for discovery… and disaster. 

Magic Undying features a kick butt heroine, a powerful hero, and otherworldly adventure.

Demon Magic by Linsey Hall
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Del Bellator’s simple life of treasure hunting and demon slaying ended the moment she learned she was a Guardian between the Underworld and Earth. The only problem? She has no idea what that means and no control over the magic that could help her. Sure, she can turn into a Phantom and walk through walls, but in a world where demons can throw fireballs or strike her down with lightning, she needs control of some bigger magical weapons.

To make matters worse, demons are now drawn to her like flies to honey. She’s a walking, talking demon magnet. To save her own life, she must master her powers. That means embarking on a treasure hunt unlike any she’s ever conducted. Fortunately, she has the help of Were-demon and Warden of the Underworld, Roarke Fallon, along with her FireSoul sisters, Cass and Nix. As the clock ticks down, she can only hope it will be enough.

Demon Magic features kick butt heroines, a powerful hero, and otherworldly adventure.

The Feedback Loop by Harmon Cooper
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Stuck in a virtual dreamworld called The Loop, a man named Quantum Hughes struggles to free himself from a glitch that forces him to live the same day on repeat. His life changes when a mysterious letter arrives one morning from a woman named Frances Euphoria, the first human player he has made contact with in a very long time. Once Frances appears, members of a murder guild known as the Reapers begin surfacing in The Loop, hoping to capture Quantum or worse -- kill him. To further complicate matters, The Loop itself is doing everything it can to stop Quantum from finding the hidden logout point by turning everything in the virtual dreamworld against him.

With time running out, will Quantum break free from his digital coma before he's captured or killed by the Reapers? Who is Frances Euphoria, and what does she actually know about how long Quantum has been trapped? 

The Feedback Loop Series takes place thirty years before the Life is a Beautiful Thing Series. It shares the same world, but is a standalone series that focus on dream-based virtual reality worlds and the people who are trapped in them. The next book in the series will be called Steampunk is Dead, and will be released in the fall.



Purchased/Winnings/Gifts:

Book:

Snow on Cinders by Cathrina Constantine
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Goodreads Synopsis:
How far would you go to protect your family? 

A peculiar metamorphosis has taken shape since the final days. And the planet is in the throes of healing. 

Fulvio McTullan leads his family and a band of misfits to form a new settlement, far from Tallas and it’s nefarious Elites. Their journey takes them into uncharted territories where strange creatures are lurking. It’s a battle of survival, not only from the creatures, but the mutated earth as well. 

Meanwhile, Pomfrey Addler, an oppressive Elite squashes the insurrection in Tallas. Suddenly, citizens begin to vanish in the middle of the night and his daughter, Paniess is hell bent on revenge. 

Fraught with mishaps, Fulvio finally locates the perfect place to settle. They begin to rebuild until they receive a call. A call which will lure them back into the clutches of Tallas.



Audio:

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

Fighting Destiny by Amelia Hutchins
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Have you ever heard of the old Celtic legends of the Fae—beautiful, magical, and deadly creatures that have a love of messing with humans just for kicks and giggles?

Welcome to my world.

What started out as a strange assignment, lead to one of the most gruesome murder mysteries of our times. My friends and I are set and determined to find out who is killing off Fae and Witches alike.

Couple of problems in the way – I hate the Fae and the Prince of the Dark Fae is bound and determined that I work for him. He’s a rude, overbearing egotistical ass with a compulsive need to possess, dominate and control me. Oh—did I mention that he is absolutely sex-on-a-stick gorgeous and he makes me feel things that I never ever wanted to feel for a Fae... every time he touches me or looks at me with those dangerous golden eyes he seems to pull me further in under his spell, despite my better judgment.

My friends and I can’t trust anyone and nothing is as it seems on the surface—not even me.

Crane by Stacey Rourke
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Goodreads Synopsis:
The Horseman is unending,
his presence shan’t lessen.
If you break the curse,
you become the legend.

Washington Irving and Rip Van Winkle had no choice but to cover up the deadly truth behind Ichabod Crane’s disappearance. Centuries later, a Crane returns to Sleepy Hollow awakening macabre secrets once believed to be buried deep. 

What if the monster that spawned the legend lived within you?

Now, Ireland Crane, reeling from a break-up and seeking a fresh start, must rely on the newly awakened Rip Van Winkle to discover the key to channeling the darkness swirling within her. Bodies are piling high and Ireland is the only one that can save Sleepy Hollow by embracing her own damning curse. 

But is anyone truly safe when the Horseman rides?

Maid for the Rock Star by Demelza Carlton
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Goodreads Synopsis:
A maid at the exclusive Romance Island Resort, Audra knows how to handle rock stars, billionaires and celebrities. She keeps their secrets, cleans up their mess and makes sure their holiday is a memorable one. There's just one rule: no relationships with guests. And Audra never breaks the rules. 

Jay Felix is rock royalty and he knows it. When one of his bandmates threatens to break up the band, he goes into hiding at the Romance Island Resort. Looking for a distraction, he sets his sights on the unattainable Audra. But what's a rock star to do when the girl he wants is the one woman he can't have? 

Welcome to paradise, where the romance is as hot as the weather and the tides aren't all that's surging under the surface.

His Tempting Bride by Jenn Roseton
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Goodreads Synopsis:
The first book in the spin-off series from the popular Billionaire Brothers series. 

When curvy event planner Heather Lancaster meets Gage Coltson in a New York City hotel, she’s instantly attracted to him. And when she helps him out, he repays her by inviting her to vacation on his ranch. 

But when her sister shows up to “rescue” her, she discovers that Gage is related to the billionaire Trask brothers. 

Stressed out Heather succumbs to his - and his ranch’s - charm. And when she rescues a puppy, Gage helps her care for the appealing creature. 

As her two-week vacation turns into three, she slowly falls in love with the sexy rancher. But what about her career in New York? Should she risk it all for love? Could Gage ever love her - and her curves? 

This is a sexy contemporary romance novella of approximately 31,500 words.

Escape From Zulaire by Veronica Scott
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Andi Markriss hasn’t exactly enjoyed being the houseguest of the planetary high-lord, but her company sent her to represent them at a political wedding. When hotshot Sectors Special Forces Captain Tom Deverane barges in on the night of the biggest social event of the summer, Andi isn’t about to offend her high-ranking host on Deverane’s say-so—no matter how sexy he is, or how much he believes they need to leave now.

Deverane was thinking about how to spend his retirement bonus when HQ assigned him one last mission: rescue a civilian woman stranded on a planet on the verge of civil war. Someone has pulled some serious strings to get her plucked out of the hot zone. Deverane’s never met anyone so hard-headed—or so appealing. Suddenly his mission to protect this one woman has become more than just mere orders.

That mission proves more dangerous than he expected when rebel fighters attack the village and raze it to the ground. Deverane escapes with Andi, and on their hazardous journey through the wilderness, Andi finds herself fighting her uncomfortable attraction to the gallant and courageous captain. But Deverane’s not the type to settle down, and running for one’s life doesn’t leave much time to explore a romance.

Then Andi is captured by the rebel fighters, but Deverane has discovered that Zulaire’s so-called civil war is part of a terrifying alien race’s attempt to subjugate the entire Sector. If he pushes on to the capitol Andi will die. Deverane must decide whether to save the woman he loves, or sacrifice her to save Zulaire.

MIND: The Beginning by Jenn Nixon
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Goodreads Synopsis:
After Dina Ranger loses telepathic contact with her twin brother, Duncan, she breaks into his apartment and stumbles onto a special government unit responsible for monitoring the psychic population. She’s offered a job where she can use her psionic gifts to help people. 
Stranded on earth over a hundred years ago, Liam of Shria is searching for a metal needed to repair his ship when he finds Dina inside an alien escape pod and narrowly saves her after she trips the alarm. 
As the mystery and their relationship deepens, Liam helps Dina learn the truth behind her abilities while uncovering a plot to rebuild an ancient weapon, exposing dangerous secrets about the alien presence on earth that may change the future forever.

Releasing Rage by Cynthia Sax
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Half Man. Half Machine. All Hers. 
Rage, the Humanoid Alliance’s most primitive cyborg, has two goals—kill all of the humans on his battle station and escape to the Homeland. The warrior has seen the darkness in others and in himself. He believes that’s all he’s been programmed to experience. 
Until he meets Joan. 
Joan, the battle station’s first female engineer, has one goal—survive long enough to help the big sexy cyborg plotting to kill her. Rage might not trust her but he wants her. She sees the passion in his eyes, the caring in his battle-worn hands, the gruff emotion in his voice. 
When Joan survives the unthinkable, Rage’s priorities are tested. Is there enough room in this cyborg’s heart for both love and revenge?


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

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

Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells

Clan by Realm Lovejoy

Primal Dawn by Ryan Kirk