Looking Forward To... (132)

There are so many amazing books already on the shelves and new ones coming out.

For a list of books yet to be released I'm looking to get, you can also look on my right Sidebar at the ever growing list titled Desired Reads - just scroll down. Of course there are tones of other new books to come out that are amazing as well, but these ones are part of series I have already started or for one reason or another caught my eye (and haven't seen much on other blogs yet). But I will highlight one here each week.

(mentioned in order of Release Date then Alphabetical if there are more than one book coming out on the same date.)

It's been a while since I've done one of these Friday Looking Forward posts.  And I miss doing them.

Next Book Is...

Vengeance Borne

Sentry of Evil Novel #1

Edited By:  Amanda Bonilla

Due Out:  September 3, 2013

Wow. I'm behind in sharing what I'm looking forward to. This one is already available as well! And I've read an ARC of it. :)

Goodreads Synopsis:

Fated to Hunt…

As the local hunter, and a ward of the Sentry, a secret organization dedicated to eradicating the forces of evil, Jacquelyn has been protecting the small town of McCall, Idaho for the past five years. The hours are horrible, the pay is nonexistent, she has to work with her jealous ex-boyfriend – and forget about quitting. She’s in for life.

Destined to See…

When a rugged drifter comes through town, Jacquelyn immediately knows what he is – an Empath who can read emotions and sense what others are thinking – even though it’s clear the handsome stranger has no idea what, or how powerful, he is…

A Town in Peril…

When people in McCall start turning up dead, viciously ripped to shreds as if by a wild animal, Jacquelyn knows better. Furies are loose in Idaho and hell-bent on exacting revenge. But against whom? And for what purpose? Jacquelyn has until the full moon to stop the Furies’ killing spree and save the people of McCall, figure out how to work with her ex – oh, and there’s a handsome stranger in town who’s in desperate need of some schooling…

Author Guest Post: Amanda Bonilla and GIVEAWAY!

Today I have an insightful post from Amanda Bonilla about her characters in her new book, Vengeance Borne, in a new series - Sentry of Evil.  My review of this wonderful new Urban Fantasy world, Vengeance Borne, is up as well.

Please welcome Amanda Bonilla.

Difficult Heroines and Remembering My Twenties

Thanks so much to Melissa for having me as a guest today!

I have a tendency to write difficult heroines. Sometimes selfish, silly, and stubborn, their attitudes and hard heads often get in the way and cause their roads to be rocky, their journeys tumultuous. I was talking to a friend of mine the other day about it and I realized that I tend to write heroines who are also in their twenties. I said to my friend, do think most people remember how they behaved in their twenties?

I remember thinking that I was such an adult. That I had life totally figured out. Things like mortality, the future, stability, didn’t matter quite as much because I had all the time in the world. I still felt invincible. And I made so, so many stupid mistakes. Decisions that I look back on and wonder, What in the hell was I thinking?

A few months back I read an article that stated that the brain isn’t fully developed until after our twenties. That could account for the bad decision making skills. And let’s face it: most twenty year olds would absolutely run head-first into a bad situation because they’re still suffering from that arrogance that comes with youth. Nothing can hurt me! I’m bulletproof!

But our twenties are also the years where we “find ourselves.” It’s through those bad choices and irrationality that we discover who we are, what’s important to us, and how we want to live our lives. Which makes writing a believable character arc with tons of growth really easy for me. Through the course of these bad decisions, the selfishness, the utter irresponsibility, we all grow. My fictional heroines grow as well. They begin to learn that life isn’t quite what they thought it was, that they weren’t quiet the adults they perceived themselves as, and ultimately they grow into more mature, rational, adult characters.

What were/are your twenties like? Were you a silly, irresponsible, bad decision making youth, or maybe a level-headed, mature adult?

~~~~~~~~~~

Author Bio:
Amanda Bonilla lives in rural Idaho with her husband and two kids. She’s a part-time pet wrangler, a full-time sun worshipper, and only goes out into the cold when coerced. She loves the outdoors, black clothes, pink appliances and thinks junk food should be a recognized food group. In the summer, she can be found sitting by the lake, enjoying the view from her dock.


Find Amanda:
Site:  Amanda Bonilla Urban Fantasy Author
Blog:  Amanda Bonilla
Facebook:  Amanda Bonilla, Author
Twitter:  @amandabonilla

~~~~~~~~~~

Amanda has offered up one ebook copy for your winning!

Vengeance Borne 

Fated to Hunt…

As the local hunter, and a ward of the Sentry, a secret organization dedicated to eradicating the forces of evil, Jacquelyn has been protecting the small town of McCall, Idaho for the past five years. The hours are horrible, the pay is nonexistent, she has to work with her jealous ex-boyfriend – and forget about quitting. She’s in for life.

Destined to See…

When a rugged drifter comes through town, Jacquelyn immediately knows what he is – an Empath who can read emotions and sense what others are thinking – even though it’s clear the handsome stranger has no idea what, or how powerful, he is…

A Town in Peril…

When people in McCall start turning up dead, viciously ripped to shreds as if by a wild animal, Jacquelyn knows better. Furies are loose in Idaho and hell-bent on exacting revenge. But against whom? And for what purpose? Jacquelyn has until the full moon to stop the Furies’ killing spree and save the people of McCall, figure out how to work with her ex – oh, and there’s a handsome stranger in town who’s in desperate need of some schooling…


Open International as it's a Digital Copy.
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Can't wait for your Amanda Bonilla fix?  You can find this book on any book dealer site.  But here's a link to Amazon:

Book Review: Vengeance Borne

Vengeance Borne

By:  Amanda Bonilla

Publisher:  NYLA

Publish Date:  September 3, 2013

Format:  eARC, 297pgs

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  1st book in Sentry of Evil series

Recommendation:  An Urban Fantasy with an interesting and rich world of Waerds (Hunters) and Bearers (the emotional balance to what needs done).

Synopsis:
Fated to Hunt…

As the local hunter, and a ward of the Sentry, a secret organization dedicated to eradicating the forces of evil, Jacquelyn has been protecting the small town of McCall, Idaho for the past five years. The hours are horrible, the pay is nonexistent, she has to work with her jealous ex-boyfriend – and forget about quitting. She’s in for life.

Destined to See…

When a rugged drifter comes through town, Jacquelyn immediately knows what he is – an Empath who can read emotions and sense what others are thinking – even though it’s clear the handsome stranger has no idea what, or how powerful, he is…

A Town in Peril…

When people in McCall start turning up dead, viciously ripped to shreds as if by a wild animal, Jacquelyn knows better. Furies are loose in Idaho and hell-bent on exacting revenge. But against whom? And for what purpose? Jacquelyn has until the full moon to stop the Furies’ killing spree and save the people of McCall, figure out how to work with her ex – oh, and there’s a handsome stranger in town who’s in desperate need of some schooling…

First Sentence:
When a banshee sends a message, you'd be stupid not to listen.

Purchase At:
Amazon   /   Barnes & Nobles

**I requested a copy of this book for review from the Author.

My Thoughts and Summary:
McCall seems to be thriving in paranormal activity lately, dampening her sleep time and calling Jacquelyn away from her night out with friends with a Banshee warning call.  Off to secret job to hunt demons before the Banshee find the victim to claim.  Jax tries to avoid hunting with her Bearer, and ex-boyfriend, Finn.  Micah drives through town in his RV looking to stay away from people with his curse of feeling emotions and having terror visions of people getting hurt.  But Micah is stalled in his passing as he sees the woman from his latest dream, the one who escaped the death he saw coming.  Jax finds Micah, a rather strong unknown Bearer, and train him to help her with the murders that Finn is not picking anything supernatural on, but Micah is.  The murders could get her pulled from this town she's come to love by the Sentry and even worse, bring death to those she loves dearly.  The Banshee's not singing for the deaths, and that scares Jax.  Finn's not seeing anything supernatural about them.  Micah is fresh to the field and seems to be accepting the gift he was running from, but will Jax have him trained in time to save those of the town from Furies?  And herself?

The first chapter was a hit!  Brought me right in to the world Jacquelyn is in along with the action too.

Lots of this world blended with meeting everyone and the ways of Jacquelyn.  Loved the creation of the world Jacquelyn is in, and the potential to come.  I do want more of it.
   The Sentry - Super secret supernatural business
   The Bearer - Tracker and Magic gauge, and all they can do for their Waerd with emotional and physical bruises
   The Waerd - An appointed protector of ghouls, demons, and their ilk - the hunter of them all when they attack

I get a feel that the world of The Sentry with the Bearers and Waerds is so much more.  There is a heavier story behind all of the creation here, and I want it!  I am taken with this creation and look forward to reading more and more as Jacquelyn, Micah, and Finn learn about it as well.

The characters are catching, along with their abilities and connection to each other and the world created.  Micah has no idea what he is and what he is wandering into.  But here in McCall, he starts to feel connected to his "gift" or curse as he calls it.  He starts to feel better, and it's all thanks to Jacquelyn.  It seems the Waerd and Bearer work together to keep each other grounded, in more ways than one.  Jacquelyn has issues in her past she needs to work through, and Micah seems to be the one to help her through those.  Finn is still in love with Jax and is struggling to get through their breakup.

We get a few different POVs here.  Jacquelyn, Micah, and the man who has "the vengeance's" to his use (or is it the other way around, he to the vengeance's use?).  This gives us the view from all angles.  The hunter, the bearer, and the furies in attach.  With Jacquelyn not having her queues there are attacks, the POV of the vengeance user is very important, and also adds suspect to your reading.

The fury view is so well done it makes me wonder who it is.  I had one suspect from the beginning, then all the sudden I was up to two (possibly three) suspects!  I had to keep reading to see who it was!

Only one little piece that stuck out to me.  One sentence.  Jacquelyn is a smart girl, but there is mention that she gets a vibe from someone and wishes Micah or Finn was with her to look at him.  Then she seems to forget this thought.  I know her emotions are numbed, which is some explanation along with all going on with the hunk of men (Micah and Finn) around her.  She's slightly off her game, and this is the example to show it.  She's on the hunt for Furies and knowing she needs to pay close attention, and she knows this.  Knowing the Furies could be attached to anyone, even if she thinks this person may not be likely.  Other than this one little mention, I truly enjoyed this book!

I love the mystery and unknown behind Waerds and Bearers, completely different.  And the connection between the two.  What the Bearer can do for Waerds, explains Jacquelyn's emotions so perfectly, especially when in hunter mode.

An Urban Fantasy read with a rich world.  I want to know more and look forward to future books!

Teaser Tuesday (175)

Teaser Tuesday

is a weekly event

Sponsored by MizB of Should be Reading

Here's how it works:

Grab the book you are currently reading (anything at all)

Open the book to any random page.

Share 2 teaser sentences from anywhere on the page

Please Make Sure They Are Not Spoilers!

(Don't Give Too Much Away)

Just enough to pique our interests

This Week:

Melissa's Read:

It took a good fifteen seconds for Jacquelyn to catch up with the kid who'd turned, walking backward as he waited to flash his thumb at a car a couple hundred yards away.  Across the highway, the Goblin - was he seriously seeing this? - approached its prey, the jerky movements of its body causing Micah's stomach to churn.

Vengeance Borne
By:  Amanda Bonilla
121 pg

Who? What? Where? (125)

Who are you with? Where are you at? What's happening?

Share with us just a little bit of what is happening in the book you are reading, right where you are now.

Just a tiny taste of what's happening, remember try to not give spoilers of the book.

his is a new meme I'm going to try and will tweak as I go. And please don't laugh at my lame attempt at drawing. ;D )

This Week:

Trish just returned to the kitchen, where Micah has just bought us time with the Sentry, after checking in on Jacquelyn.  Things seem...not so good.  But I have faith in Jacquelyn like Micah and Trish. She'll find those furies and eliminate them. After what happened with Finn, yep.  She will!

Vengeance Borne
By:  Amanda Bonilla

Others have shown interest in joining in this post, and linking up.  So I've created a linky for that.
My only requests; copy the picture to use, and link back to My World...in words and pages.
Please visit any joining in.
Thank you!