Review: Burden of Blood by Wenona Hulsey

Burden of Blood by Wenona Hulsey

*I received this book (digital copy) in exchange for an honest review and participation in the blog tour.  The blog tour is being hosted by The Bookish Snob Tours.

Amazon Product Description:
No one wants to know everyone’s darkest secrets, especially not police officer, Nicole Keenan. All she wants is a blissfully normal life in the small, Alabama town where she was born. But as generations of power running through her veins start to wake up, an ancient grudge is ignited that threatens to push her over the edge. She can hardly believe in what she is, let alone that a dark force will not stop until she's joins them. Or is dead.
Nicole Keenan's life enters into a dangerous dance with warriors and gothic fairies. Southern tradition collides with Irish folklore as she learns about love, heartbreak, and The Burden of Blood. 

My thoughts:
Wow!  This is one of those books where you wish that the characters were real people!  It would be amazing if we had police that could hear thoughts!  It would take the mystery out of deciding guilt.  It would be even more amazing if a man like Luke actually existed!
The characters are fantastic and for the most part drive the story.  Nicole is a great character.  Tough, seasoned cop with new found "super" powers that she has to not only learn to control, but learn to fight with - she becomes a force to be reckoned with.  I like the warrior/fae hybrid twist as well as the warrior/princess angle that the story takes.  Luke is (obviously) my favorite.  His character is just the right mix of bad boy meets angel.  I can't wait to see where the sequel takes Luke and Nicole.  The supporting characters are well done and vital to the story.
The book is set in today's world but has Nicole travel to the past in her dreams.  It is in these dreams that we learn about her grandmother, although this isn't where we learn who her grandmother really was.
There is a theme throughout the book of both sacrifice and family.  The characters are faced with loyalty, love and dedication but also of distrust, deception and secrets.  The story is filled with mystery and had me turning the pages faster and faster in an effort to find out what choices Nicole would make.  I found myself cheering for her, cursing her hardheadedness and hoping for her.  What would you be willing to do for those you love?
This is a fresh, new look at fae and magical powers.  I enjoyed the story very much.  It is well written, nicely paced, easy to read and truly entertaining.  I read the book in one sitting.  Be sure to give this one a read!!!

Blog Tour: The Raie'Chaelia by Melissa Douthit

Raie'Chaelia by Melissa Douthit

***I received this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and participation in the blog tour!

You can see author information and the tour schedule HERE!

Amazon Story Summary:

When Chalice sets off for Branbury in the middle of the night with her grandfather's instructions, she has no idea of the dangers that await her. The King's men have destroyed her home village of Canton and she is suddenly thrown into a Terravailian world that she does not know. Lost and alone, she is hard pressed to evade the iron grasp of the madman that rules the land. With the help of a friendly Chinuk, an old man, and a book that she discovers along the way, not only does she find true love, but she also finds her true self and what it means to be the Raie'Chaelia.

My thoughts:

This is a beautifully written story.  The language is precise and descriptive.  The characters are wonderfully created and well-developed.  The story is filled with mystery, prophecy, and secrets.  This is an incredible adventure story!  The storyline and plot are complex and intriguing.  The story is fast-paced, but doesn't leave the reader behind.  The animals are fantastic.  Melissa Douthit must be a wordsmith!  She weaves the language in such a way that the reader is enthralled by the story.  This is original and unique in a world where sometimes stories can seem similar.  Her world building skills are incredible leaving us with fascinating scenes that come alive from the pages.  Her characters are the stuff a person wants to be made of: clever, brave, strong, honorable, driven, loyal, and loving.  
Throughout our lives, I believe we are all searching for something and it was refreshing to read this wonderful adventure in which the search is more than just the road and the prize is more than just the obvious.  I can't wait to read more!  

Blog Tour: Vampire's Curse by S.J. Wright (Giveaway too!)

This blog tour is presented by The Bookish Snob Tours.

You can get to the entire tour schedule by clicking HERE.

You can see my review by clicking HERE.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the blog tour!

Please welcome S.J. Wright!

Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, at a time when children were still not required to use seatbelts in a vehicle, S.J. Wright grew up as the sixth of seven sisters.  She moved around a lot as a child, spent a good deal of her time reading books about horses, roller-skating (in an attempt to find Xanadu), and daydreaming about becoming a novelist.

She now lives in Little Elm, Texas with her husband, two sons, and one Jack Russell terrier that follows her around the house like a shadow.  She is the prime caregiver to her youngest son, who has spina bifida.  She loves horses (and swears one day she’ll actually get the guts to ride one again).

In February of 2011, she released her first paranormal suspense/romance novel called The Vampire’s Warden.  She plans to release a total of four books for the series.  S.J. (Stephanie) also loves hearing from her readers!  Be sure to check out her website at www.sjwrightbooks.com.

I am always curious about what makes writers tick and she was gracious enough to allow me an interview! So read on...

How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?

I love this question!  I’m forty years old and have done a lot of different kinds of jobs in the past.  I’ve probably had ten or eleven jobs before I became a writer.  The worst job I ever had was working in a plastics factory in South Bend, Indiana.  I had given birth to my first son six weeks before I was hired, and I was raising him by myself.  Getting up several times a night with a colicky infant and then going into a factory to work a twelve-hour shift is not a pleasant wy to pass the time.  But it did make me realize how responsible I could be.\

Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write?

I wish I did have a routine.  One element that always helps me to get into the writing portion of this job is music.  Depending on what kind of scene I’m working on, music can really lift me up and move me forward into the story with a real sense of power.  While writing one of the fight scenes in The Vampire’s Curse, I was listening to “Fuel” by Metallica.  It totally gets the adrenaline going.

What are you reading right now? 

I just started reading The Traitor’s Wife by Susan Higginbotham.  It’s historical fiction set in the 1300’s in England.  I’m a freak for historical fiction but not strictly romances.  I’ve also begun reading more novels that document the U.S. during the Great Depression.  It’s fascinating to learn how different life was back then.

What is your favorite comfort food?

I love lime-seasoned nacho chips with southwestern ranch dip.  And if I have a book that I’m really into at that moment, I could stand at the kitchen counter and eat all day while I’m reading on my Kindle.  I try to avoid buying those chips very often.  Not a good habit to get into.  I’m also a fool for chocolate.

Random fun facts:

* Dark or milk chocolate? 

     I’ve developed a taste for dark chocolate rather recently.  Especially since that report came out that said the stuff is good for you.  Anybody who says chocolate is healthy deserves a medal, if you ask me!

* dogs or cats?  Dogs!  But cats do have their good qualities. 

* Coffee or tea?  

Coffee in the morning with lots of cream.  Sometimes I drink iced tea in the afternoon if I’m all out of Diet Cherry Coke. 

And now . . . that giveaway!!!

The next stop on the blog tour is: Aug 27 – Adventures of a Cautionary Tale
You can buy her books at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

Friday hopping and following fun!

The Friday Book Blogger Hop is presented weekly by Crazy For Books!

Follow my Book Blog Friday is presented by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read

So on Friday we all link up and hop around checking out everyone else's blogs!

I can't wait to see what everyone else is reading!

I have been trying to read like crazy and get all my reviews read and still get a few books off my TBR mountain - the mountain continues to grow not only because I am not getting enough of them read, but because I keep getting more and more books!

Enjoy the hop everyone and happy reading!

You can get to this weeks Follow My Book Blog Friday by clicking HERE.

You can get to Crazy for Books by clicking HERE.  (I will update the link as soon as the Book Blogger Hop post is up and the linky is ready).

Review: Vampire's Curse by S.J. Wright

Vampire's Curse (The Undead in Brown County #2) by S.J. Wright

***I received this book (digital copy) in exchange for an honest review and participation in the blog tour.  The blog tour is being hosted by The Bookish Snob Tours.

Click HERE to read my review of The Vampire's Warden (The Undead in Brown County #1) by S.J. Wright.

Amazon Product Description:
Still reeling from the vampire battle that left her friend Alex as one of the undead, Sarah has to deal with the guilt of allowing him to be turned. She also has to face the one person she never thought she would lay eyes on again.
My thoughts:
Once again S.J. Wright brings us a fast, compelling read.  I enjoyed learning more about Sarah and the story of who she is and how she became that person.  I loved Michael in the first book, and continue to love him in this one.  He is my favorite character and my heart bled for him when he feels betrayed and lost.  I was torn between loving Alex and hating Alex - I guess that was the author's plan.  I was thrilled with the supporting characters and the roles they played in this book.  Katie gets a bit of page time in the beginning...but watch out for the end!!!  Once again we are left at the edge with the ending.  
     I will be on that edge awaiting book 3.  
I felt that this book was a bit more fleshed out than book one, but still got the impression that we could have used more information in a few places.  
     I truly enjoyed the story and am going with the belief that more will be revealed in the next installment of the Undead in Brown County series.

Happy Release Day! Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent

I LOVE Rachel Vincent's stories!!! Now that you know that - here is the next news tidbit...


Today’s the official Blood Bound release day!
(wait - my doorbell just rang...)
Hurray!!!!! I just left my UPS guy in shock!  I was sitting here typing this when (as you see above) the doorbell rang - so when I see him with a book box from Amazon - I squealed!  He thinks I have lost it!  But.....guess what was in my box?????

Blood Bound! 

I had preordered it as soon as a person could!  Totally excited!

(I have every intention of entering to win a signed one too though - If I win - someone will get this one in a giveaway!)

Can't wait.... buy yours HERE or try to win one HERE!

Now - even though I know you already know about this book - here is the blurb and the rockin' great video teaser for your reading and viewing pleasure!  
Official Book Blurb: By blood, by word, by magic…

Most can’t touch the power. But Liv Warren is special— a paranormal tracker who follows the scent of blood.
Liv makes her own rules, and the most important one is trust no one.
But when her friend’s daughter goes missing, Liv has no choice but to find the girl. Thanks to a childhood oath, Liv can’t rest until the child is home safe. But that means trusting Cam Caballero, the former lover forbidden to her.
Bound by oath and lost in desire for a man she cannot have, Liv is racing to save the child from a dark criminal underworld where secrets, lies, trauma and danger lurk around every corner…every touch…every kiss.
And more blood will be spilled before it’s over…

Here is the video teaser - soooooo makes you want to read it!