Cover Reveal: Gallowglass by Jennifer Allis Provost

Title: Gallowglass
Author: Jennifer Allis Provost
Publication date: June 6th 2017
Genres: New Adult, Urban Fantasy

Karina didn’t set out to free the Seelie Queen’s gallowglass. Now she’ll do anything to keep him.
After Karina and her brother, Chris’s, lives fall apart in separate yet equally spectacular ways, they leave New York behind and head to the UK. Karina buries herself in research for her doctoral thesis, all the while studiously not thinking about the man who broke her heart, while Chris—who’d been a best-selling author before his ex-fiancée sued him for plagiarism—drinks his way across the British Isles.
In Scotland, they visit the grave of Robert Kirk, a seventeenth- century minister who was kidnapped by fairies. No one is more shocked than Karina when a handsome man with a Scottish brogue appears, claiming to be the Robert Kirk of legend. What’s more, he says he spent the last few hundred years as the Gallowglass, the Seelie Queen’s personal assassin. When they’re attacked by demons, Karina understands how dearly the queen wants him back.
As Karina and Robert grow closer, Chris’s attempts to drown his sorrows lead him to a pub, and a woman called Sorcha. Chris is instantly smitten with her, so much so he spends days with Sorcha and lies to his sister about his whereabouts. When Chris comes home covered in fey kisses, Karina realizes that the Seelie Queen isn’t just after Robert.
Can Karina outsmart the Seelie Queen, or is Robert doomed to forever be the Gallowglass?

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Jennifer Allis Provost writes books about faeries, orcs and elves. Zombies too. She grew up in the wilds of Western Massachusetts and had read every book in the local library by age twelve. (It was a small library). An early love of mythology and folklore led to her epic fantasy series, The Chronicles of Parthalan, and her day job as a cubicle monkey helped shape her urban fantasy, Copper Girl. When she’s not writing about things that go bump in the night (and sometimes during the day) she’s working on her MFA in Creative Nonfiction. 

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Book Blitz: Dominion Rising Collection by Various Authors

Title: Dominion Rising Collection
Author: Various Authors
Publication date: August 8th 2017
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Dominion Rising: 22 books. 99 cents. #DominionRising
Find the Science Fiction and Fantasy reads you’ve been craving! Whether it’s alien invasion or dark fairy tales, heart-pounding galactic adventures or cyberpunk romance, Dominion Rising will satisfy with a thrilling mix of 22 BRAND NEW FULL LENGTH novels set in fantastical realms.
Sword and sorcery, far-flung galactic empires, alternative history, epic magic, slipstream futures: this collection of carefully selected, exclusive novels is sure to please and delight readers of speculative fiction.
Over five thousand pages packed with aliens, faeries, vampires, gargoyles, warriors, telepaths, space pirates, starship captains, hapless mercenaries, street urchins, robots, cyber-enhanced humans, badass heroines, and lost princesses. These award-winning, New York Times, USA Today and International bestselling authors have left no stone in the science fiction and epic fantasy universe unturned to bring you the very best escape from planet Earth.
All the novels are only available in the Dominion Rising collection.

Authors:

The Dominion Rising collection includes new novels from New York Times bestselling authors Gwynn White, Erin St. Pierre, Margo Bond Collins, D.K. Holmberg, Felix R. Savage, Tom Shutt, Melanie Karsak, and Erin Hayes; and USA Today bestselling authors P.K. Tyler, Anthea Sharp, Lisa Blackwood, S.M. Schmitz, and K.J. Colt.
The set also includes new work from award-winning and international bestselling authors S.M. Blooding, D.S. Murphy, Timothy C. Ward, Daniel Arthur Smith, Tony Bertauski, Rebecca Rode, Cheri Lasota, Ann Christy, Becca Andre, Logan Thomas Snyder, Dean F. Wilson, and Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy notable author Samuel Peralta.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

Pre-Order for only 99 Cents!

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Q&A With the Dominion Rising authors:

We asked some of the authors of Dominion Rising to share a little about their upcoming releases. In this interview, we asked the authors to tell us about the protagonists of their Dominion Rising Novels:

Tell us about the protagonist of your Dominion Rising Novel:

Author: Rebecca Rode

Dominion Rising Title: Flicker

Ember is a gypsy on planet Earth. All she wants is to pay off her father’s medical bills and avoiding a forced marriage. Getting kidnapped and sold to the empire wasn’t exactly the plan.

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Author: Melanie Karsak

Dominion Rising Title: Curiouser and Curiouser

My novel is a steampunk retelling of Alice in Wonderland. In my novel, Alice is an ex-thief who is trying to escape her former life in London’s seedy criminal underbelly. Unfortunately, when the Hatter gets himself in trouble, Alice is pulled back exactly where she doesn’t want to be—working a job for the Queen of Hearts with a man she despises so much that she might still love him.

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Author: Tom Shutt

Title: Iron Tamer

Mal is a young, cursed boy who grows up in the isolated mountain town of Pointe, which has been disconnected from the rest of the Empire for at least a generation. When he accidentally gets the local “police” force, the Brigade, nearly killed by a raging forest spirit, Mal is forced to take the Walk—a one-way ticket to death in the caved-in mine shaft that once connected Pointe to civilization.He makes it out alive, though, and soon discovers that he has an incredible gift—the ability to manipulate metals. And at the behest of an unlikely new friend, he starts on a journey to become an iron tamer.Mal is a spirited, kind, and sometimes overly trusting young man who wears his heart on his sleeve and more than once gets the wool pulled over his eyes, but his dedication to his friends and belief in himself sees him through many dangers.

*

Authors: Erin St Pierre and Gwynn White

Dominion Rising Title: Reign of Bones and Embers

A young woman with something to prove, freedom to fight for, and a whole lot of sass.

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Author: Daniel Arthur Smith

Abernathy “Abby” Squire is an Indiana Jones turned detective. He’s forever young, due to anti-aging technology common in the future. But his youth is only aesthetic. Over the centuries he’s been a university professor, an agent for the Homeland, and most recently a proprietor. He’s uncomfortable with his role in the Plane Wars and is reluctant when called back to help with a case because many aspects remind him of his past.

*

Author: Tony Bertauski

Title: The Waking of Grey Grimm

There are three protagonists in The Waking of Grey Grimm. Figuring out who they are and where they are is the story arc. Each of them is in search of something deeper in life and the relationships that bind them together. In the end, they discover that reality is not confined by our five senses.

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Author: Samuel Peralta

Title: “Labyrinth of Steel”

The protagonist of any of my stories is you.

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Author: Erin Hayes

Title: Touching Infinity

Clementine is a cyborg, more machine than human, but she’s dealing with an identity crisis of where she fits in. She’s a master hacker, the leader of her space pirate crew. She doesn’t have many scruples, but she’ll put her life on the line to save her crew.
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Author: Anthea Sharp

Title: Star Compass

Diana Smythe is an orphan, a pickpocket… and a mathematical genius. My novel, Star Compass, follows her journey from the gutter to the stars and is set in a Victorian Spacepunk universe, where an eternally cloned Queen Victoria has ruled for centuries and the British Empire spans the galaxy.

Dominion Rising Pre-Order Celebration

Book Blitz, Interview & Giveaway: Claimed By Power by Zoey Ellis

Title: Claimed By Power
Author: Zoey Ellis
Publication date: April 3rd 2017
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Not all angels are angelic…
Thea Robinson has never needed anyone’s charity. Sure, her impoverished existence isn’t desired by most, but her ability to manipulate people’s emotions helps her to blend into the shadows of an unforgiving city. When hideous creatures threaten her life, a surly but gorgeous stranger shows up revealing a world she didn’t know existed. She refuses to put up with his rude, arrogant attitude, but how do you dismiss a warrior angel? And does she really want to when his stormy gaze sends delicious thrills straight to her core?
Cam is one of the most ruthless Power angels in the fight against evil. His devotion to kill demons has made him a celebrated warrior in the Angel Realm, even though his motivation stems from grief. When he is assigned to train and protect a half-angel just coming into her abilities, his rage is unparalleled. Until he realizes Thea isn’t like any others. She stirs a carnal passion in him that he can’t shake. He never counted on her being so beautiful… so fierce… so most definitely his.
Claimed by Power is the first book in the Empire of Angels series, a paranormal alpha angel romance series. If you’re a fan of alpha heroes, powerful heroines, paranormal worlds and falling in love, Zoey Ellis’ riveting, sexy tale is perfect for you.
About the end: Although this book can be read as a standalone, Cam and Thea’s story does continue over the next two books.
Sexual scenes and strong language included. Not suitable for readers under 18

Goodreads / Amazon

Q&A with author Zoey Ellis:

What motivated you to become an indie author?
I’ve always written stories, mainly to entertain myself, and would usually include friends and family in my tales. Sometimes life was so crazy, I’d just recount things that happened! Other times I made up new scenarios and worlds. Eventually, I entered competitions, took courses, wrote online group stories and shared my work frequently online. I received lots of feedback and therefore improved over time.
I felt discouraged to pursue writing as a career because of the lottery jackpot nature of the traditional publishing industry. When I realized writers could be successful at indie publishing, I thought ‘ah, maybe I could give this a try’ and hoped I could write something others would want to read. And even though I’m a baby indie, all the bloggers, writers and readers who I’ve been in communication with about my book have been so lovely and helpful. It’s really encouraging.

Why do you write Paranormal Romance?
I think deep, passionate, sexual romance is a beautiful part of human nature that is sometimes trivialised and boxed in when actually it can be such a powerful part of a real connection between people, even if other personality flaws get in the way. I also have a deep love for all things fantastical and so it only made sense to blend the two. The challenge of both together make it an enticing sub-genre to tackle.

Could you tell us a bit about your most recent book and why it is a must-read?
Claimed By Power is about a warrior angel with a troublesome nature finding his natural mate in a fiery and distrustful half-angel, who grew up not knowing what she was. They have different ways of approaching their relationship and this causes problems and misunderstandings for them both, but they are drawn to each other and come to understand each other.
I think it’s a must-read because of the idea that angels can mate and shift, just like werewolves! The warrior angel is an alpha but is deeply attracted his mate’s independence and fiery nature. He respects who she is and does everything he can to preserve and protect that throughout their story.

How did you come up with the idea for Claimed By Power?
I didn’t see a story about angels that was in the same vein as the one I wanted to read, so I decided to write it. I pulled on all the things I love about shifter stories and blended them with angels, demons, heaven and hell, passionate love and a developed paranormal world.

How do you select the names of your characters?
Camael is documented as the name of an angel, though different sources claim different facts about him. I liked the one that said he was the ‘chief angel of Powers’, and I knew that had to be the Hero’s name. With the rest of them, I figured out the shortened name I wanted to use and then came up a longer version with the aid of research.

What did you edit out of this book?
My beta readers didn’t connect that much with the character Amber, so I tried to adapt it to make her more likable. I’m not sure I succeeded but she appears throughout Cam and Thea’s story, so hopefully she’ll grow on anyone that isn’t convinced.

What is your favorite part of the book?
It’s a section I added on the advice of one of my brilliant beta readers, and it’s Chapter Ten where Thea is being trained by Cam. He is cold and stern with her while she’s trying to figure him out. I think the goofy and tempestuous side of her character comes across well and it’s clear from other chapters how Cam really feels. I looooved writing it.

What’s next for this series?
There are two more books planned that cover Cam and Thea’s story, which is a bit unusual with the sub-genre I’m targeting, but I couldn’t fit it all into one book (and I probably wouldn’t have finished it if I tried). After that there are two more couples in the same world whose stories need to be told. I won’t say who – it’d spoil the surprise!

Tell us a little about your plans for the future. Where do you see yourself as a writer in five years?
Cam and Thea’s story will all be released this year. In five years, I hope to have released a number of interesting series that are uniquely ‘me’ but also familiar enough to readers of adult Paranormal Romance for them to enjoy. I have an idea for a dragon shifter series next but at the moment, I just want to see how this one does!

Where can we find you online?

Website: www.zoeyellis.com

Facebook: facebook.com/authorzoeyellis

Twitter: @authorzoeyellis

Come say hello!

Zoey Ellis spends her most of her time thinking up stories that explore how love and romance can be tested by the darker side of our personalities and the heart-wrenching challenges that must be overcome for love to win, even if two people belong together.
A lover of the fantastical, Zoey enjoys how intense and vast the challenges can be for couples in the paranormal romance genre. Her goal is to build a body of work depicting thrilling, fantastical romances between demanding alpha heroes and fiery heroines hoping the love they make will scorch ereaders and melt hearts. With a soft spot for angels, dragons and alpha shifters, Zoey blends her love of a Happy Ever After with strangely unique worlds and complex plots.
If you're interested in hearing about Zoey's new releases first, as well as her bonuses and giveaways, sign up to her newsletter. 

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Book Blitz & Giveaway: GROND: The Raven High by Yuri Hamaganov

Title: GROND: The Raven High 
Author:  Yuri Hamaganov 
Publication date: February 28th 2017 
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

In the year 2086, Earth is exhausted. The seas have been emptied, the bedrock and soil stripped of their resources, and the superheated atmosphere churns with terrible storms. Those who can afford to do so live in the limbo of virtual reality, and the billions who suffer in poverty have no work, no clean water, and no security from the chaos.

The only hope for those trapped on a dying Earth are the Changed—the seven bioengineered post-humans who work in their separate manufacturing facilities orbiting high above the planet. Raised from birth for their work and fully matured at ten years old, their genius provides the nanomaterials that have begun to cleanse Earth of the pollutants that have wiped out almost the entire ecosphere.

But for Olga Voronov, youngest of the Changed, the isolation and endless toil are not the greatest of her challenges. Down on Earth there are those who resent and fear her talents—and would prefer that humanity not be given the second chance that only she could make possible …

Goodreads / Amazon 

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Book Blitz & Giveaway: The Animal Under The Fure by E.J. Mellow

Title: The Animal Under The Fur
Author: E.J. Mellow
Publication date: March 30, 2017
Genres: Action, Adult, Romance

From award-winning author E. J. Mellow comes an action romance dripping with vengeful delight.
Orphaned on the streets as a baby, Nashville Brown, a.k.a Kill Operative 3, knows better than to rely on anyone. With heightened senses and superhuman strength to survive, she’s been raised as the perfect assassin.
The trick to her success? Keeping everyone, even her best friend, at arm’s length.
Losing his entire family in the span of a year, Carter Smith left his ability to love buried deep in their graves. His only concerns now are completing his missions and effortlessly charming the next temptress to warm his bed.
The key to his accomplishments? Working alone mixed with a Casanova smile.
But when a deadly weapon needs to be stopped from falling into the wrong hands, the lone wolves find themselves thrown into an explosive partnership. Can Carter and 3 lower their guns aimed at one another long enough to succeed, or will their unwillingness to compromise end up destroying more than their perfect records? Whatever their differences, both agree on one thing—in the game of lies and deceit, the line between friend and foe is often blurred by blood splatter.
The Animal Under The Fur is a hate-to-loath-to-love standalone novel filled with savagery, secrets, and enough angst to wrinkle the pages you’ll find gripped in your hands.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

E.J. Mellow is the award-winning author of the contemporary fantasy trilogy The Dreamland Series and The Animal Under The Fur. With a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, E.J. Mellow splits her time between her two loves – visual design and writing. Residing in NYC, E.J. is a member of Romance Writers of America and their Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Chapter. She has no animals but loves those who do.

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Waiting on Wednesday: Red Sister (Book of the Ancestor #1) by Mark Lawrence

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're super jazzed about.

Title: Red Sister

Series: Book of the Ancestor #1

Author: Mark Lawrence

Publisher: Ace

Publication Date: April 04, 2017

Pages: 432

Genres: Fantasy, Adult Fiction

Synopsis

I was born for killing – the gods made me to ruin.

At the Convent of Sweet Mercy young girls are raised to be killers. In a few the old bloods show, gifting talents rarely seen since the tribes beached their ships on Abeth. Sweet Mercy hones its novices’ skills to deadly effect: it takes ten years to educate a Red Sister in the ways of blade and fist.

But even the mistresses of sword and shadow don’t truly understand what they have purchased when Nona Grey is brought to their halls as a bloodstained child of eight, falsely accused of murder: guilty of worse.

Stolen from the shadow of the noose, Nona is sought by powerful enemies, and for good reason. Despite the security and isolation of the convent her secret and violent past will find her out. Beneath a dying sun that shines upon a crumbling empire, Nona Grey must come to terms with her demons and learn to become a deadly assassin if she is to survive… 

My Thoughts

Mark Lawrence is an author that I have been meaning to read forever now! I sometimes want to switch things up and read adult fiction rather than young adult fiction. I feel like I am trapping myself in a way when I read only young adult titles. There is so much more out there to experience, and so many other great stories to add to my favorites list. I plan to read the other two series that Mark Lawrence has out prior to reading this one, so I may have to binge read them shortly. I am very much looking forward to this title.

What are your thoughts on adult fiction vs. young adult fiction? Do you read one primarily, or do you dabble in both?What is a book that you are patiently waiting on? Feel free to leave the link to your Waiting on Wednesday post!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Authors I'm Dying to Meet

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week there is a different question for bloggers to ponder over. 

This week's topic is "Top Ten Authors I'm Dying to Meet". So here we go!

1. Jay Kristoff

Jay is one of my favorite authors to follow on social media. He is so funny and down to earth. I swear, if we knew each other in real life I think that he and his wife would be best friends with my husband and I. We just share the same sense of humor, and love of all things awesome. =P

2. Elise Kova

Elise is probably the author that I follow most on social media. She is truly a lovely person. I have been on her street team since the beginning of her Air Awakens series, and I have loved every moment. Elise is generous and loves her fans.

3. Leigh Bardugo

This lady holds the key to my heart. Seriously. Her stories move me so deeply that there are hardly words to describe it. I devour everything that she writes. 

4. Cassandra Clare

I admit that I don't know much about Cassandra Clare's personality. I don't stalk her on social media, but I love love love her books! The depth that she has in her stories is outstanding and awe inspiring. If I could write a book like any author, it would be her. 

5. Ann Aguirre

Ann Aguirre's Razorland series was one of the best series that I've had the pleasure of reading. I have yet to read her other books, but I certainly will! I would love to meet her and express my gratitude for the amazing series that is always at the top of my list of favorites. 

6. Sarah J. Maas

Seriously, who wouldn't want to meet Sarah J. Maas? Like, really? She is one of the most popular young adult authors right now, and for good reason. He weaves intricate, incredible stories. Her Throne of Glass series is one of my favorites, as I am sure it is on a lot of people's favorite lists. =P

7. Marissa Meyer

Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles series was so special to me. I am usually high on fantasy stories, but Marissa Meyer gave me a surprising, enchanting science fiction story that won over my heart. She reintroduced me to my second favorite genre, and got me hooked on retellings. 

8. Marie Lu

Dystopian stories will always have a special place in my heart. There is something about the genre that speaks to me, as did Marie Lu's Legend series. I picked up the first book and was hooked. I follow Marie on social media and she is a darling. 

9. Veronica Roth

Another dystopian author that I adore. I think that everyone has read Veronica's Divergent series. I fell in love with this world and binge read the entire series in three days. She seems like such a nice gal on social media, and I would love to tell her how much I enjoy her books.

10. Annette Marie

Annette Marie is one of my favorite indie authors. Her writing is so flawless, and the way that she creates worlds is mesmerizing. I have no doubt that she could be a mainstream author with book deals and movie deals. Her stories are so detailed. Her Steel & Stone series is one of my all time favorites. 

If you had the chance to meet any author, who would you choose? Feel free to leave the link to your Top Ten Tuesday post! 

Update

Just a little update since I haven't been able to update the blog lately. Things have been hectic in my personal life. My husband had cancer and surgery to remove it. He lost his job as a result and my family was evicted from our home. We have been living in a family friend's basement until we can find a place of our own. Since we were evicted, it has been hard finding somewhere to live. Plus, we have four children, so we have to find a place with enough space for everyone. I have been working. I love my job, so that is my only solace lately other than the few moment that I get to read. I have only read 15 books so far this year, and seven of those have been trade paperbacks/comics. I usually read 8-15 books in a single month, so I am disheartened. I have been trying to stay positive and think of the good things. I think that I may start listening to audiobooks again. Right now I have a long commute to work, so the kids and I can listen to books on the way. I am just going to have to choose middle grade books. =P Even though things aren't that great on my end, I am going to try and make an effort to post as much as I can. Tonight I am going to try and update my 2017 Challenge page and I hope to get some meme posts drafted. I know that there probably won't be many that read this, but if you have sat through this then thank you. I hope to be back to active status as soon as my family is situated. I'm still reading everyone's blogs, and I hope that everyone is well. Best wishes for now! If you have any books or authors that you would like to recommend then I would welcome them in the comments. =]